Modupe Gbadeyanka
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The management of BUA Group has threatened to file a suit against the Managing Director of Kainos Exploration and Production, Mr James Onyejekwe.
The conglomerates said it was taking this action over the alleged involvement of Mr Onyejekwe in a publication that claimed the organisation was involved in a $20 million scandal.
A statement issued by the firm lamented that the report was a “clear intent to impugn the integrity and reputation of BUA Group and its Chairman, Mr Abdul Samad Rabiu.”
“BUA takes its reputation seriously and we will continue to do everything to protect it from anyone and any entity who obstructs our mandate to conduct business in a proper, legal and socially-responsible manner.
“BUA will, therefore, utilise its legal and human resources to resist every campaign of defamation and distraction,” the statement further said.
The company, which trades the shares of its cement subsidiary on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), said it discovered that Mr Onyejekwe was behind the news story on the internet after an “independent investigation.”
“We have, therefore, instructed our legal team to immediately commence criminal defamation proceedings against the person of Mr James Onyejekwe who is the said originator of the malicious letter fraudulently attributed to Cavendish Petroleum against our person, with damages,” the statement seen by Business Post noted.
BUA explained that, “We deem these actions necessary, in order to protect the name and reputation of BUA Group.”
“We see no reason why Mr James Onyejekwe of Kainos Exploration and Processing would single out BUA in a supposed business dispute which had no link to the BUA Group in its entirety.
“Therefore, BUA finds it absurd that Mr Onyejekwe or anyone else will decide to drag BUA into their issues and/or put out such a malicious and defamatory statement, fraudulently using the name of Cavendish/Mr Mai Deribe without recourse to the truth, facts, decorum or decency,” it added.
The company described the news report bordering allegations of corruption as “false, malicious and spurious.”
