By Pathfinder Reporter
Monday February 19, 2024
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Following alleged defamation and spreading of false information about its products by certain individuals, a beverages manufacturing company, Bullion-Go-Neat Global Manufacturing Company Limited, has petitioned the Commissioner of Police, Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS)
Adeniji Adele, Alagbon, Lagos, seeking justice.
The firm listed Mr. Reuben Abati, Chioma Chukwunedu, Nairametrics, and one E A Team in the defamation petition.
The petition, which was made available to journalists on Sunday, was signed by the company’s legal representatives, Isaac Izunya (Esq) of Izunya Izunya and Co.
In the document, entitled; “Petition Against Reuben Abati, Chioma Chukwunedu, Nairametrics, and E A-Team,” the company said it sought redress “for the offenses contrary to Section 24 (2) (c) and Section 25 (1) of the Cyber Crime Act 2015, as well as Section 375, 376, and 125 of the Criminal Code Act.”
It added that “Bullion-Go-Neat Global Limited, a registered manufacturing company, accused Chioma Chukwunedu and her associates of utilizing media platforms, specifically E A Team and Nairametrics, to disseminate falsified and untrue information about its product, Coco Samba Milk and Chocolate flavored with herbal extracts.”
The company said the alleged false reports involved “the product (Coco Samba Milk and Chocolate Flavoured With Herbal Extract) which they claimed was intercepted and seized by German Customs due to its being unsafe for human consumption.”
The legal representative argued that “the suspects in the defamation acts include Mr. Reuben Abati, who actively participated in the generation, diffusion, and circulation of false information on the products on various social media platforms,” contending that the malicious intent behind the false news was to cause substantial damage to its principal’s business reputation, affecting customers confidence and leading to economic loss.
The legal representative also emphasized that the alleged actions of the suspects had caused substantial economic and reputation losses to Bullion-Go-Neat Global Limited.
He urged the Commissioner of Police to investigate and prosecute the suspects, emphasizing the need for decisive action to restore the lost confidence, goodwill, integrity, and reputation of the affected company.
He cited Section 351 of the Criminal Code, saying it held individuals publishing defamatory matters to account, knowing the same to be false; “and they are liable to imprisonment.”
The company’s legal representative also called on websites, “such as Mr. Abati’s blog, Nairametrics, Opral News and Our Heritage Reporter, alongside other media that carried the news, to produce evidence from the German laboratory to the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), if, indeed, they have published factual information.”
“This highlights the importance of substantiating claims and maintaining journalistic integrity in the face of serious allegations.
“Media platforms are strongly advised to fact-check any adverse information regarding our products before publication.
“Alternatively, such information should be forwarded to the Enforcement Department at the NAFDAC office in Apapa, Lagos.
“Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in legal consequences, as per the established rules and ethics of the law and journalism,” the petition read.
Also, the chairman of Bullion-Go-Neat Global Manufacturing Company Limited, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, said he was surprised when he read “the damaging false reports about our product.”
According to him, “nobody served us any letter or notice concerning the alleged interception of our product in Germany. We approached several departments in NAFDAC and we were told there were no such complaints about our product anywhere.
“Suddenly, a blog that claimed it represented NAFDAC, threw the information out and didn’t communicate with us or ask for our opinion on the matter. We believe good journalism requires hearing from all sides before publication. But we were not consulted and our opinion wasn’t sought.
“As a company paying taxes to the government and providing employment to Nigerians, we deserve a say in whatever is going on or that will affect our company.”
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