Marvic Alpha Legal Practitioners has issued a strong rejoinder to a recent report by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) alleging that Aare Adeyemi Awoyinfa collected £15,000 for United Kingdom Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) without delivering the documents. In a statement released in Ibadan, the law firm, acting as lead counsel to Awoyinfa, described the publication as defamatory, misleading and a violation of due process, and has demanded an immediate retraction and public apology.
According to Marvic Alpha LP, Awoyinfa had an established professional relationship with the complainant, having allegedly completed more than 20 similar CoS-related transactions in the past. The firm stated that in the disputed case, its client advanced £15,000 to a licensed UK-based agency, which later encountered regulatory challenges that delayed the process. It added that these developments were communicated transparently to the informant.
The law firm further accused the complainant of abusing legal processes by allegedly instigating the arrest and detention of Awoyinfa’s elderly mother, who was said to have no involvement in the transaction. Marvic Alpha described the action as unlawful harassment and an attempt to intimidate their client.
Condemning FIJ’s publication titled “Adeyemi Awoyinfa Promised CoS, Jobs in Exchange for £15,000. He Failed But Won’t Return Money,” the firm alleged that the report amounted to a “media trial” and was published despite the disputed nature of the claims. It argued that the article compromised journalistic ethics and fairness.
Marvic Alpha LP has demanded that FIJ retract the report from all its platforms and issue an unreserved public apology, to be published prominently online and in at least three national newspapers. The firm also issued a 72-hour ultimatum, warning that failure to comply would result in legal action for defamation and damages.
Signed by Olamiji Martins, Senior Partner and Chief Legal Risk Adviser, the statement maintained that justice should be pursued through lawful judicial processes rather than through what it described as “reckless digital headlines.”
Meanwhile, the report has reportedly come as a shock to many Nigerians, particularly residents of Osun State, given Awoyinfa’s reputation for empowerment through his employment foundation, which is said to have benefited thousands over the years.
