Boulos, SCOA Nigeria Deny Budget Benefit Claims, Warn of Defamation Suit Over Online Videos

MICHAEL AKINOLA

A legal dispute is brewing over viral social media videos linking the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road Project to alleged improper financial benefits, as businessman Massad Fares Boulos, members of the Boulos family, and SCOA Nigeria Plc have firmly denied any involvement.

In a strongly worded cease-and-desist letter issued by their legal counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, the clients described the circulating claims as “malicious, scandalous, and highly defamatory.”

The allegations, which suggest that the Boulos family and SCOA Nigeria Plc benefited from federal budget allocations tied to the coastal road project, were dismissed in their entirety as false and without any factual basis.

According to the legal correspondence, the claims are “baseless and a figment of the imagination” of those behind the publications.

It further stressed that the clients have never received, appropriated, or benefited from any funds connected to the Federal Government or any related entity in respect of the project.

The letter warned that the ongoing circulation of the videos has already caused significant reputational harm to both the individuals and the corporate entity involved, adding that continued dissemination poses a risk of further damage.

As part of immediate demands, the legal team called for the removal of all videos and related content from social media platforms and other channels.

It also demanded that individuals and entities involved in sharing or amplifying the allegations cease further publication and refrain from any repetition of the claims in any form.

The breadth of the demand reflects concerns that the content has gained wide traction across multiple online platforms, significantly amplifying its reach.

The letter also signaled a firm legal stance, warning that failure to comply would result in both civil and criminal proceedings against those responsible.

The contemplated actions include defamation suits seeking substantial damages for reputational injury and emotional distress.

The legal team further indicated possible reliance on provisions of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, particularly Section 22, which addresses cyberbullying, online harassment, and the dissemination of false information.

The involvement of Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, and his law firm, Pinheiro LP, underscores the seriousness of the matter.

Legal practitioners note that such pre-action correspondence often signals the likelihood of full-scale litigation in high-profile defamation disputes.

The Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road Project, a flagship federal infrastructure initiative, has attracted significant public attention.

However, the Boulos family and SCOA Nigeria Plc insisted they have no connection whatsoever to the allegations circulating online.

The dispute highlights growing concerns over misinformation in the digital space and the increasing readiness of individuals and corporate entities to pursue legal remedies against those responsible for publishing or amplifying unverified claims.

The demand for takedown extends not only to original publishers but also to secondary sharers and amplifiers of the content.

The letter concluded with a formal notice that failure to comply will leave the clients with no option but to institute legal proceedings without further notice, adding that the correspondence was issued without prejudice to their rights, all of which are expressly reserved.