The legal representatives of Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo have issued a firm rejoinder to media reports concerning a petition filed by Arch-View Investments Limited. The petition, submitted to the Ogun State House of Assembly, accuses Pastor Ashimolowo of unlawfully selling lands belonging to Bluestone Garden City Limited.
In a statement released on Friday, Ashimolowo’s legal team categorically denied the allegations, describing them as baseless, malicious, and misleading. They clarified that the disputed transaction was between Arch-View Investments Limited and Bluestone Garden City Limited, not Pastor Ashimolowo as an individual.
Read the full statement below.
REJOINDER TO DEFARMATORY PUBLICATIONS ON PETITION AGAINST PASTOR MATTHEW ASHIMOLOWO ON SALE OF LAND BELONGING TO BLUESTONE GARDEN CITY LIMITED AND LETTER OF INVITATION BY THE OGUN STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
We are Solicitors to Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo and Bluestone Garden City Limited, our Clients and on their behalf respond to the numerous media publications on the above subject Petition presented by Arch-View Investments Limited against Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo over alleged sale of land belonging to Bluestone Garden City Limited, as follows:
1.While our clients acknowledge the receipt of this Petition dated 19th February 2025, forwarded electronically, they however, deny the very weighty allegations made against Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, as they are not only baseless, malicious in nature, but full of falsehood, and calculated misrepresentation and suppression of material facts;
2. We wish to note that the transaction in contention, subject of the Petition is between Arch-View Investment Limited and Bluestone Properties Limited, and not Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo as an individual as wrongly misrepresented.
SUMMARY OF TRUE FACTS IN CONTENTION:
3.By the agreed terms of the Contract of Sale between both parties (i.e. Bluestone Garden City Limited, and Arc-View Investments Limited), dated 1st August 2022, which was entered into, after extensive deliberations, the modes of payment were agreed to by both parties as contained in the Agreement.
4.The payment period was to be within two {2} years, which payment was to be completed in April 2024, and but failed in four years of unfulfilled obligations and promises, in spite of a moratorium period of over 4 months obliged to the Company. Arch-View Investment Limited totally disregarded the payment arrangement, and the last payment received was in June, 2024;
5.Arch-View Investment Limited had on several times defaulted in her on her payment proposal and thereby made nonsense of and destroyed our client’s business projections based on the arrangement of the payment, which formed the premise of our client agreeing to same;
6.Bluestone Garden City Limited had on several times bent backward in overlooking the Arch-View Investment Limited’s default in meeting her financial obligations as agreed to by parties, which persists, and view that it tends to suggest that ab-initio the Company really knew what she desired to do, and the recent action is an indication of the intent;
7.Our Client also noted that, while stagnating payments to her, Arch-View Investment Limited had other land transactions with some others, wherein the Company made outright payment with stiff conditions for the land purchase she made and, in such others, was not allowed spread of payment, and the company ensured full outright payment without fail;
8.While our Client holds further that she had at all time material, showed good faith and understanding in ensuring full consummation of the contract, and also kept to the spirit of the contract, Arch-View Investment Limited did not show sufficient respect and commitment in her financial obligations as agreed to by parties and till date only a fraction sum which is less than 36% of the Sale price was made;
9.Our Client is therefore constrained to reconsider her business relationship with Arch-View Investment Limited, and consequently terminated the Contract agreement in its entirety and informed that a refund of the payments made would be obliged in the manner it was paid, as the premise and context of the agreement has been eroded by Arch-View Investment Limited, which is not acceptable to our Client;
10.Accordingly, your Company’s workmen or officers are forthwith barred and or prohibited from entering any part of the 285 Acres of land subject;
11.Following the stalemate between both parties on the above subject, Arch-View Investment Limited sought the intervention and mediation of His Excellency, the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, for a mediation;
12.Following the intervention and mediation by His Excellency, the underlisted terms were proposed and same are acceptable to our client:
i-The 35 Acres at the Folakan Area (Parcel A) be released by Bluestone at the earlier rate which parties negotiated, while both parties should renegotiate and agree to current price for Papa lanto Area;
ii-Access to the 35 Acres will be allowed upon formal Agreement of parties on the above terms; or
iii-Bluestone refunds monies paid in respect of the Papa Area (Parcel B);
ivThe said refund shall be in-tandem with the mode of payment by installment made by your Company;
13.Arc-View rejected the proposal and made a Criminal Complaint made against our Client to the Ogun State Police Command, in which the Police came to a conclusion that the issues between parties are purely Civil and the intervened and mediate as did by His Excellency, our Client is constrained to again respect and honour the Institution and in particular the DCP State CID and therefore, makes the underlisted terms as follows:
i-A total of 78 Acres would be released by our Client to Arc-View;
ii-The 35 Acres at the Folakan Area (Parcel A) would be released at the rate per Acre agreed to at the inception of the transaction;
iii-The 43 Acres at the Papa Area (Parcel B) would be released at a new rate per Acre;
ivAccess to both lands shall only be allowed upon formal Agreement of parties on the above terms, which remain valid till close of work on Monday, 17th February 2025, and Execution of relevant Deeds and documents in the regard.
14.Arc-view was also notified that, we do not receive the Company’s acceptance as stated above, then our Client would be constrained to rescind her reconsider her position, and hold as follows:
iiBluestone shall refund the entire monies paid by your Company in respect of the land;
iiiThe said refund shall be in-tandem with the mode of payment by installment made by the Company.
15.After attempting several unsuccessful mediation efforts with the involvement of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Nigerian Police, Arc-View turned to the Ogun State House of Assembly in an attempt to find leverage where all other avenues have failed. This raises serious concerns about the true motives behind the Petition. Had Arch-View been genuinely interested in resolving the dispute, they would have sought legal recourse through the Courts or approached relevant law enforcement agencies, rather than seeking to use the House of Assembly as a tool for personal gain;
16.It is therefore to the dismay and shocking disbelief of our Clients, the damaging and defamatory Petition made to the Ogun State House of Assembly, and the wide publications made by some media outfits without prior confirmation of the true facts and thereby maligning our Clients before the general public;
17.Consequently therefore, we hereby issue a strong and unequivocal warning to all media outlets and individuals engaged in the dissemination of defamatory and misleading information against Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo. Any further attempt to tarnish his reputation will be met with swift legal action. Pastor Ashimolowo’s image has been seriously misrepresented, and the spread of such misinformation has resulted in significant harm to his character. The public is being misled, and it is imperative that the media refrain from further defamatory statements or publications that are unfounded and unsupported by factual evidence;
18.We also draw attention to the fact that the petition presented by Arch-View, based on false premises and a breach of contract on their part, should be handled through the appropriate legal channels, including civil or criminal litigation, and not through the politicization of a matter that is purely contractual in nature.
