Posted by TheNEWS magazine, Professor Yemi Osibajo (SAN), on
Counsel to TheNEWS magazine, Professor Yemi Osibajo (SAN), has warned the management of the mobile telecommunication outfit, MTN, not to tamper with its telephone records and documents concerning a story published in the recent edition of the magazine.
Counsel to TheNEWS magazine, Professor Yemi Osibajo (SAN), has warned the management of the mobile telecommunication outfit, MTN, not to tamper with its telephone records and documents concerning a story published in the recent edition of the magazine.
In a letter titled 'Re: Publication of TheNEWS magazine of 14 July, 2008, captioned; 禅he Scandal of Judges - How Osun Tribunal was compromised'" and addressed to the chief executive of MTN Nigeria Ltd, the lawyer urged the company to take note of the matter.
'We wish to bring to your attention the news item on the front cover of Volume 31, No.01 of TheNEWS magazine of 14 July, 2008, and the main story on pages 20-23, 25 and 30-31 of that edition. Please find attached a copy of the specific publication for ease of reference.
'From our client's experience in similar matters in the past, there is a reasonable likelihood of investigation by official agencies, and a possibility of litigation regarding the story and the issues raised therein.
'We appreciate that your organisation may already have a formal procedure for such situations. Nevertheless, we consider it imperative to request that all the relevant telephone records in the publication and, indeed, all other related records and documents, be properly preserved."
The letter to MTN became necessary following attempts by Adekunle Kalejaiye, counsel to Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun State in the governorship election petition, to rubbish the credibility of TheNEWS magazine.
The magazine had, in its current edition, exposed the alleged communication between the tribunal's judges and Kalejaiye in the course of the tribunal's sitting, which is capable of compromising the judges and tainting the outcome of the verdict to be delivered on 15 July.