Monimichelle Threatens Legal Action Against BSN Sports Over Defamatory Publication

Monimichelle Sports Facility Construction Ltd has threatened legal action demanding retraction of a recent publication by BSN Sports, which it claims made defamatory statements about the company’s role in the Benue State stadium project and the relegation of Lobi Stars Football Club.

In a letter addressed to Mr. Niyi Busari, Publisher and CEO of BSN Sports, dated April 24, 2025, Monimichelle accused the news outlet of publishing a “patently false, malicious, and defamatory” article. The publication, titled “₦1.7 Billion Stadium Scandal: How Monimichelle’s Failed Contract Relegated Lobi Stars and Betrayed Benue Govt,” was allegedly filled with inaccuracies and misleading claims that have severely damaged the reputation of the company and its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Ebi Egbe.

The company has demanded that BSN Sports retract the article within 72 hours, publish a public apology, and pay ₦50 million in compensation for reputational, emotional, and commercial damages.

Monimichelle also warned the sports media outlet that failure to comply with these demands will leave them no choice but to pursue legal action, which could involve seeking monetary damages and injunctive relief.

The company refutes the claims made in the publication, which suggested that Monimichelle’s mismanagement of the stadium renovation project was responsible for the relegation of the Lobi Stars and the alleged misappropriation of public funds. The letter states that the publication “recklessly misrepresented” the facts and deliberately ignored the challenges the company faced, including logistical constraints and bureaucratic delays in accessing imported materials, which had been communicated to the Benue State Government in March 2025.

Monimichelle insists that it acted in good faith, following the terms of the contract with the state government, and that delays in project completion were primarily due to external factors beyond their control.

The company further asserted that the claims made in the article were “calculated to provoke public odium, institutional distrust, and commercial injury.”

As a result of the complaint, SaharaReporters has confirmed that the disputed article has since been taken down from BSN Sports’ platform, with the account involved also suspended.

The legal notice serves as a pre-action warning, with Monimichelle’s legal representatives emphasizing that the company’s reputation and the integrity of its CEO, Chief Egbe, have been unfairly tarnished. The letter also included a directive to preserve all editorial materials related to the publication for potential future legal proceedings.

In response to the unfolding legal dispute, Monimichelle’s legal team has made it clear that they expect swift and fair action from BSN Sports to rectify the situation and restore the company’s reputation. Should the media outlet fail to act within the prescribed 72-hour period, the company has indicated it will proceed with legal measures.

This escalating situation highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding the Benue Stadium project, which has been mired in controversies related to mismanagement, delays, and disputes over public funds.