The alleged notorious smuggler, Alhaji Ibrahim Dende Egungbohun, also known as IBD Dende, has filed legal action for defamation against Arise Media Group, journalist Fisayo Soyombo, and his online platform, Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), over allegations of being labeled a smuggler and gunrunner in their reports.
Egungbohun, in the lawsuit (CV/2286/24) filed in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by his legal representative Bola Aidi (SAN), challenges the allegations made against him in reports by Soyombo, FIJ, and Arise TV, which depicted him as a smuggler and gunrunner.
According to the statement of claim, the claimant contests that in a series of publications by Soyombo and FIJ (identified as the first and second defendants), disseminated through their online platform and micro-blogging site X (formerly Twitter), he was unjustly labeled as the predominant smuggler and gunrunner in the South West region of the country.
Egungbohun, presenting himself as a diligent and accomplished entrepreneur with influential connections, leveled allegations against Soyombo and FIJ, alleging they insinuated his involvement in gun and bullet smuggling to the South Eastern region. He further accused Arise Media Group of broadcasting these defamatory claims on its “Morning Show” program.
The claimant said his “hard work, integrity, dedication, and tenacity has given him business goodwill among well-meaning Nigerians and has enabled him to establish business and personal relationships with top Nigerian businessmen and politicians including Nigerian President, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, incumbent Governor of Ogun State, His Excellency, Dapo Abiodun, amongst several others.”
He stated that “on or about 23rd February 2024, the third defendant (Arise Media Group) aired the 1st defendant’s (Soyombo’s) defamatory documentary on its Arise TV’s “The Morning Show,” hosted by Ojy Okpe, wherein the claimant (Egungbohun) was described as ‘a notorious smuggler,’ ‘Ilaro’s biggest smuggler,’ ‘that the claimant has been arrested severally for smuggling, but averted prosecution due to his closeness to power,’ ‘that IBD International Hotels in Ilaro, belonging to the claimant, is well known to have been built with proceeds of smuggling,’ ‘that the claimant smuggles guns.’
“Indeed, the unjustified denigration and defamation of the claimant were compounded by Rufai Oseni, one of the anchors on the programme, when he said ‘…look at the kind of people we praise in our society, look at what that report said about him… we live in a society where thieves are celebrated.’
Egungbohun added: “From the daily consistency and persistence of the first and second defendants to defame the claimant via their X handle/page @fisayosoyombo and @fignigeria, it became obvious that the first and second defendants were cyberstalking the claimant and were all out to totally damage and assassinate the character of the claimant.”
