Linda Ikeji Admits Fault On Identity Of Instablog9ja Owner

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Linda Ikeji’s blog, a Nigerian news blog, has apologised to John Abayomi, the online Editor of Punch Newspaper for mistakenly identifying him as the owner of Instablo9ja, a news page on Instagram.

Collage of Punch, John Abayomi & Linda Ikeji

Thelagostimes recalls that that the blog had published a story November 15 with the title: “LIB exclusive: Meet the owner of Instablog9ja – John Abayomi”, but it turned out it was a mistaken identity as the picture of John Abayomi was used instead of John Abayomi Aruleba, who the blog claim is the actual owner of Instablog9ja.

Apparently displeased with the development, the Punch online Editor called on Linda Ikeji to tender anapology on her blog site within forty-eight hours or risk legal action.

Abayomi through his lawyer, Falana and Falana’s Chambers claimed that the publication with the headline, “LIB Exclusive: Meet the owner of Instablog9ja-John Abayomi” has put his life and that of his family in danger.

In a swift reaction, Linda Ikeji blog issued a statement on Sunday night apologising to John Abayomi, noting that his image was used in the report instead of John Abayomi Aruleba’s image.

The statement issued by the Editor of the blogreads: “In an article on Linda Ikeji’s Blog titled “LIB exclusive: Meet the owner of Instablog9ja – John Abayomi” published on November 15, 2018 John Abayomi was mistakenly identified by his picture as the owner of Instablog9ja.

“This mistake was as a result of the exact similarities in the names of John Abayomi who is an Online Editor with Punch and another John Abayomi Aruleba who is the actual owner of Instablog9ja.
“The picture identification mistake from our staff was sadly as a result of the uncanny yet not uncommon similarities in the names of these two individuals.
“LIB is happy to set the record straight, take full responsibility for the mix-up as we tender our unreserved apology to John Abayomi of Punch Newspapers for any inconvenience this mistake has caused.
“Our publication was meant to reveal the identity of John Abayomi Aruleba (pictured above), the owner of instablog9ja who shares the same business address as his father, Dr Aruleba owner of Aruking herbal herbs with business address in Lagos.
“The fact however still remains that John Abayomi Aruleba runs Instablog9ja with his partner, Tosin Dotun Adeyemi.”