Alleged Defamation: Developer Sues Family, Police Officer Over N500m Claim

A Lagos-based estate developer, Alhaji Samsideen Sule, has dragged two members of the Abolarinwa family and a senior police officer before the state high court in Ikeja over allegations of defamation, harassment and malicious publication.

Sule, who operates under the name SAS Estate Developer, filed the claim through his counsel, Dele Babalola, accusing the defendants of circulating what he described as false and damaging allegations against him.

The defendants in the suit are Alhaja Sherifat Abolarinwa, Habeeb Abolarinwa and CSP Taofeek Tijani of Zone II Police Command, Onikan, Lagos.

The claimant alleged in the suit that the defendants jointly authored and circulated a petition dated 19 March 2024, accusing him of involvement in the theft of two trinket boxes containing 950 grams of 24-carat gold, purportedly belonging to the late Alhaji Tejumola Abolarinwa.

Sule told the court that the allegations were false and malicious, and were intended to damage his reputation as a businessman and estate developer.

He claimed that the defendants and other family members initially engaged him to assist in recovering about 12 plots of land allegedly taken over by hoodlums and land grabbers in the Idimu and Abule-Odu areas of Lagos.

The claimant also stated that, acting under a Power of Attorney granted in his favour, he mobilised legal and financial resources, engaged lawyers, and pursued petitions with security agencies, which purportedly led to a favourable judgment restoring nine plots of land to the family.

He averred that, as remuneration for his efforts, he was entitled to two plots of land and also purchased an additional plot from the defendants for N2 million.

However, Sule alleged that the defendants later turned against him and began filing petitions with various police stations and agencies, including Idimu Police Station, Area’ M’ Command, Lagos State Police Command, Zone II Police Command, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Lagos State anti-land-grabbing office.

He further alleged that these petitions subjected him to repeated police summons, intimidation, and humiliation, including a trip to Abuja over claims that he forged signatures on the Power of Attorney.

The claimant also maintained that investigations eventually confirmed the document’s authenticity, yet the defendants allegedly continued to publish defamatory statements against him.

Sule also alleged that some of these defamatory publications were broadcast on radio programmes, including one on Agidigbo FM in Ibadan.

He told the court that the publications depicted him as a fraudulent businessman and land grabber, causing damage to his reputation, business standing, and personal integrity.

The claimant added that these publications exposed him to ridicule among colleagues, clients, and the public, resulting in emotional distress and embarrassment.

Among the reliefs sought, Sule requests the court to declare the allegations against him false, malicious, and defamatory.

He is also seeking N500 million in damages for harm to his reputation, emotional trauma, and business losses caused by the publications.

Additionally, he requested an order restraining the defendants from making further defamatory statements.

As of the time of filing this report, no date has been set for the hearing.