May 12, (THEWILL)- Socialite and billionaire property developer, Sir Oluwatumininu Okeowo, has dragged his siblings, Tolulope Okeowo and Joe Faraday, a company belonging to his brother, Joshua Okeowo, claiming N100 million in damages over an alleged false and libelous publication regarding the estate of their late father, Sir Taiwo Okeowo.
Joshua, like his brother, is also a property developer and his company was in charge of the seven-storey building that collapsed in Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos in April 2023 while still under construction, killing two site workers and injuring several others.
In his suit, Olu Okeowo is seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from publishing libelous statements against him. He also prayed the court to compel the defendants to show evidence that he forged a Lagos State Certificate of Occupancy over a property in Ikoyi, Lagos.
However, the defendants, in their statement of defence, denied making any unprovoked assault or orchestrated smear campaign against Okeowo’s character. They stated that they did not malign or defame Okeowo in any manner and shall put him to strict proof in respect of this allegation.
The defendants further stated that they did not author the purported Internet publication titled “Sir Taiwo Okeowo Estate Brief” or engage in a campaign of calumny against Okeowo. They explained that the letter dated October 5, 2022, referenced in the statement of claim, was written on their authorisation as shareholders and directors of Manna Real Estate Company Limited and Metal Construction (West Africa) Ltd, and beneficiaries of the Estate of Late Sir Taiwo Okeowo.
In their counterclaim, the defendants alleged that since their father’s death in 2003, no letters of administration were granted to anyone to administer the estate. They alleged that Okeowo has been diverting assets of the estate to his personal use and has been illegally managing the assets of the estate without their consent or authority. The defendants prayed the court for a declaration that they, together with Sir Olu Okeowo, are jointly entitled to the distribution of the assets of the estate of their late father. They also sought an order directing Okeowo to render a proper account of his management of the estate and an order appointing the Administrator-General of Lagos State to take over the management of the assets of the estate. The case has been adjourned till May 20, 2024, for further hearing.
Ivory Ukonu is a versatile journalist with many years of experience, with entertainment and society reporting as her area of core competence.
