David Oladimeji
The legal representatives of Dr. Basil Nwolisa have issued a strong rebuttal to what they described as a misleading and defamatory media publication linking their client to alleged irregularities surrounding the purchase of imported containers.
In an official statement released to the press, the legal team clarified that recent reports circulating in sections of the media contained serious factual inaccuracies capable of tarnishing the reputation of Dr. Nwolisa and misleading members of the public.
According to the statement, contrary to claims made by the journalist, the matter under investigation is not before the Police Zone 2 Command as widely reported, but is currently being handled by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) in Ikoyi, Lagos, the legally designated authority overseeing the case.
The lawyers further corrected assertions regarding legal representation, stating that Dr. Nwolisa’s defence team was not led by an individual identified as Abdulmalik, but by Barrister Destiny Takon, who has remained actively engaged in the matter from inception.
They also questioned the credibility of the alleged charge sheet referenced in the publication, noting that it conspicuously failed to include the names of key individuals who directly received payments connected to the transactions.
The legal team identified these parties as Mr. Nwankwo, Mrs. Tomie, and Mr. Haruna, insisting that any genuine investigative document would necessarily reflect their involvement as principal transaction beneficiaries.
Providing background to the dispute, the statement explained that Dr. Nwolisa merely introduced businessman Chinedu Obi to a middleman, Mr. Nwankwo, who specialized in sourcing containers for interested buyers.
Dr. Nwolisa, the lawyers maintained, independently purchased two containers — a 20-foot container loaded with hair products and a 40-foot container containing mini buses and spare parts — after making verified payments totaling ₦41 million to the appropriate suppliers.
Separately, Chinedu Obi reportedly conducted his own business arrangements and paid approximately ₦55 million to the same sourcing channel for three containers comprising hair products, electrical materials, and used vehicles.
The controversy, according to the legal team, emerged only after three 40-foot containers were discovered to have been double-allocated, a development now being addressed through ongoing intervention by Customs authorities working toward replacement solutions.
They stressed that Dr. Nwolisa neither collected funds from nor acted as a financial intermediary for Chinedu Obi, dismissing suggestions of fraud or financial misconduct as entirely unfounded.
Addressing another aspect of the allegations, the lawyers clarified that the disputed ₦3 million mentioned in reports represented legitimate logistical expenses, including flight tickets, hotel accommodation, commissions, and operational costs incurred during the transaction period.
The statement described the accusations against their client as reckless, alleging that the publication amounted to cyberbullying, reputational attack, and an attempt at blackmail through media pressure.
The legal team consequently condemned what it termed the journalist’s failure to verify facts before publication, warning that such conduct undermines professional journalism ethics and public trust.
While reaffirming Dr. Nwolisa’s willingness to cooperate fully with investigators at the Special Fraud Unit, the lawyers disclosed that their client reserves the right to seek legal redress against individuals or platforms responsible for spreading defamatory narratives, expressing confidence that ongoing investigations will ultimately clear his name.