A Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has remanded a disqualified All Progressives Congress governorship aspirant, Abimbola Olajumoke, in prison custody for one month over allegations of defamation, cyberbullying and kidnapping.
The case was instituted by the Chief Executive Officer of YSJ Agro-Allied Limited, Mrs Yemisi Joluwe.
Chief Magistrate Abayin Adeosun had earlier granted Olajumoke bail but revoked the order after she failed to appear before the court at the next adjourned sitting.
Her failure to appear subsequently led to her arrest and detention.
The magistrate adjourned the case until September 15.
Speaking on Wednesday, Joluwe said she approached the court to seek justice over what she described as damaging statements allegedly made by Olajumoke against her company and the harm caused to some members of staff.
Joluwe said YSJ Farms welcomed constructive criticism but would not tolerate what she described as deliberate attempts to damage its reputation.
She said, “At YSJ Farms, we have always welcomed constructive feedback and public scrutiny, as they help us grow and serve our community better. However, there is a clear distinction between a genuine complaint and a deliberate, malicious attempt to destroy a company’s hard-earned reputation.
“We filed this petition because the statements made by Abimbola Olajumoke were not only blatantly false but were specifically engineered to damage our corporate integrity. We have a duty to our investors, our employees and our customers to fiercely protect the YSJ brand from baseless slander.”
The YSJ boss said the legal action had not affected the company’s operations, adding that the firm remained focused on its agricultural activities and the production of quality food.
She, however, noted that the alleged false narratives had forced the company to spend time reassuring stakeholders and business partners.
Joluwe said the suit was also aimed at securing a retraction, public apology and appropriate damages over the alleged harm to the company’s reputation.
She said, “Our primary goal is very simple: the complete restoration of the truth. We are seeking a formal retraction, a public apology and appropriate damages for the harm caused to our brand.
“Beyond YSJ Farms, this is about setting a standard for accountability. In this era of social media and instant communication, people must understand that words have weight and consequences.”
On reports concerning an alleged kidnapping incident at the farm, Joluwe said the company was working with security agencies to ensure the safety of its workers and management.
She said security agencies were investigating the alleged involvement of Olajumoke in the reported kidnapping and murder of a staff member, stressing that the company would allow the investigation to run its course.
Joluwe said, “Security agencies are investigating the alleged involvement of Abimbola Olajumoke in the kidnapping and murder of our staff. We are determined to follow the process to a logical conclusion.
“The safety of our pioneer participants and new intakes is our absolute number one priority. The moment these malicious rumours surfaced, we immediately moved to reassure our workers and their families.”
She added that YSJ Farms maintained close ties with local security agencies and the Ekiti State Government to secure its farm clusters.
“Our youths are currently at the farms, working diligently and earning their honest pay, and we are glad that the partnership is yielding positive results for Ekiti youths,” she said.