‘Malicious, Scandalous’ – Boulos Family, SCOA Threaten Lawsuit Over Viral Coastal Road Allegations

The family of Lebanese-Nigerian businessman, Massad Fares Boulos, alongside SCOA Nigeria Plc, has threatened legal action over what they described as defamatory videos linking them to alleged fraud in the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road Project.

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In a statement, their legal team issued a cease and desist notice demanding the immediate withdrawal of the viral content circulating on social media.

The notice was signed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Kemi Pinheiro, who described the videos as “malicious, scandalous and highly defamatory.”

According to the legal letter, the videos falsely claim that the Boulos family and SCOA Nigeria Plc benefitted from federal government allocations tied to the ongoing project.

The lawyers, however, insisted that the allegations were entirely false.

“Our clients categorically deny these allegations in their entirety,” the letter stated.

It further described the claims as “unfounded, baseless, and a figment of the author’s imagination,” adding that the clients had no involvement in any such financial dealings.

The legal team said the continued circulation of the videos had caused significant damage to the reputation and business standing of the family and their corporate interests.

They expressed concern over the widespread nature of the content across social media platforms, warning that it was misleading and harmful.

The lawyers demanded the immediate removal of all related materials, including videos, posts, and any derivative content.

They also called on bloggers, individuals, and media platforms to desist from further sharing or amplifying the allegations.

The notice warned that failure to comply would lead to legal action without further notice.

According to the legal team, their clients are prepared to file defamation suits and seek substantial damages for reputational harm and emotional distress.

The letter also indicated that criminal complaints could be pursued under the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Amendment Act, 2024, particularly provisions relating to cyberbullying, online harassment, and digital defamation.

The development comes amid growing public scrutiny of major federal infrastructure projects, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road Project, which has generated widespread debate online.

The legal team concluded by reserving all rights of their clients and emphasised that further legal remedies would be pursued if necessary.