Media practitioners, especially online mediums have been tasked to be weary of circulating fake news and false informations.
A community leader in Ogwashi-Uku, Mr. Charles Obi who stated this in a statement while reacting to an online report that he owns about 200 plots of land in Ogwashi-Uku, explained that the information is not only false, but emanated from mischief makers.
Debunking the online report also posted on the platform of some political and professional platforms claiming that one Barr. Frank Okolie a. k. a, Mayor forged a land purchase document, purportedly belonging to him, Mr. Obi said the information is not only misleading, but untrue.
While calling on members of the public to disregard the fake news, the community leader disclosed that at no time did he grant any interview to an online media nor author any statement to that effect.
Wondering where the online medium got its report, Obi hinted that Barr Francis Okolie whom the purveyors of the fake news were directed at is a man of repute who does not engage in fraudulent acts or anything criminal.
“I don’t own 200 plots of land nor even 100 plots as stated in the Oasis magazine publication and circulated in various whatsapp platforms by one Barr. Jude obidi and Chiedu Utomi.
“At no time did I grant any interview to any online media to warrant the using of my name in that publication. All those involved in the libellous publication must be seen as mischief makers who only want to forment trouble when there is no reason for it.
“Francis Okolie never did forge any titled land document belonging to me, because, in reality, I don’t own whether 100 or 200 plots of land. It is not existing anywhere.
“The story is nothing but a figment of the imagination of those who wrote it. It is unfortunate”, Mr. Obi said.
