Alleged libelous story against Tunde Folawiyo: Global Excellence editor, Kunle Rasheed, dissociates self

A statement from the editor of Global Excellence magazine, Kunle Rasheed, who was picked up and released by the police on Wednesday July 31st in connection with an alleged libelous story against businessman Tunde Folawiyo. Find it below...

"It is necessary to set the record straight regarding the alleged adultery story written in some news mediums about Mr. Tunde Folawiyo. To the best of my knowledge, his alleged amorous affair with ex-Miss Lux, Mrs. Ifeoma Williams, has been a feast for the online media for along time. This I never knew, though, until my attention was called to it by Tunde’s younger brother, Yomi, a friend, who, knowing I wield some level of popularity among journalists, asked me to help talk to online publishers who had published the story on their blogs to please take them down. I did not disappoint.
A few days after succeeding in taking off the story from the internet, Yomi again called my attention to the fact that two weekly magazines namely Encomium and Global News have written the story, but according to him, Global News owned by Segun Ogunbunmi did not do an objective piece.

It was then I urged Yomi to create familiarity with major players in the media so they would see him as a friend. He agreed and called a meeting with some editors. The Global News publisher, Segun Ogunbunmi, was part of the meeting. We all met for about one hour at a lounge on Opebi Road, Ikeja. We chatted intimately before we left the venue.

Yomi later called a fresh meeting and he specifically requested for Segun Ogunbunmi to be part of it. Convinced that that second meeting would further cement his relationship with the Folawiyos, having being singled out based on the story published in his magazine, I ensured that Segun attended the meeting. It was while the meeting was in progress that some policemen banged on the three of us and whisked us to the Zone 2 police headquarters in Lagos Island where they said we were wanted for questioning. Surprisingly, on getting to Zone 2, the police said that Segun was their target, so they asked both Yomi and I to go free. It was there and then that I realized I had been used by the Folawiyos to nail a friend and professional colleague.

Meanwhile, I was shocked to behold later how the police had caused a statement to be issued in the media labeling me a criminal that was arrested for criminal libel and that I was only released on bail. For the record, I have not written anything on the Folawiyos for some months. The only one I did of recent was about Yomi Folawiyo’s child dedication. I also caused some of my media friends to publish it in their respective publication.

Therefore, I’m asking the Folawiyos to produce a proof of the claim that I have libeled them. With my experience in the last three days, I have come to realize that the intention of the Folawiyos is just to rub my treasured name in the mud. In a civilized world, Tunde Folawiyo should know what a civil case is; as such he should not resort to harassing innocent persons.

A good name is more desirable than great riches and to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. On this basis, I demand a full apology from the Folawiyos; failure to do so, I will seek redress in the law court.

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