The managers of Khafi Kareem, BBNaija Pepper Dem housemate, have demanded an apology from publishers of The Sun UK over the report on their client titled “LOIN OF DUTY Met Police ‘poster girl’ faces sack for ‘having sex’ on Nigerian Big Brother after being told not to take part.”
The Sun UK in its Tuesday, August 13, 2019, edition made copious references to Khafi’s sexual relations with fellow housemate Gedoni Ekpata.
It quoted the Met Police, Khafi’s colleagues and some Nigerian reports on the fact that the 29-year-old British police officer was in the house against the directives of her employers only to tarnish the image of the Met police by having “sex on TV with Gedoni.”
The paper quote a colleague of Khafi’s as saying: “She’s a serving British police officer — it’s outrageous. She asked permission to go on the show but, when her request was refused, she went anyway.
“Her out-of-office email reply blatantly says that she is away from work, yet no one does anything.
“Other officers working with her are furious that she can just disobey orders then swan off the Africa and tarnish the reputation of the force.”
In a press release issued on Tuesday, Khafi’s managers, condemned The Sun UK’s publication describing it as a “brazenly sensational and defamatory outburst.”
The management further described the publication as being “written in poor taste and without considering the ethics of journalism which seeks balance and objectivity.”
The release noted that while The Sun UK had time to seek the opinions of Khafi’s colleagues, her employers and copiously quote other papers, it did not deem it proper to contact Khafi to either confirm or refute the claims.
The released signed by Management gave the newspaper 48 hours to retract the publication and tender a public apology to its client or face legal actions.
Below is the full text of the release:
“The attention of the Khafi’s management has been drawn to a publication by The Sun UK of Tuesday, and August 13, 2019, titled “LOIN OF DUTY Met Police ‘poster girl’ faces sack for ‘having sex’ on Nigerian Big Brother after being told not to take part.”
“This brazenly sensational and defamatory outburst by The Sun UK is written in poor taste and without considering the ethics of journalism which seeks balance and objectivity.
“At No time did The Sun UK send a mail of inquiry to Khafi’s official email which is blasted across her social media platforms under active management to confirm or refute the claims in the publication.
“Khafi’s side of the story is deliberately and conveniently omitted to sell a pre-conceived narrative while response from “outraged colleagues” and “other papers” riddle the publication.
“We find The Sun UK’s publication repulsive and damaging to the image and livelihood of out client.
“Khafi’s is a proud black female police officer who prides herself in her work and has dedicated her youthful years protecting and serving with her many skills which include the ability to speak at least five international languages.
“We demand an immediate retraction of the publication by The Sun UK and a public apology to our client within the next 48 hours.
“Legal actions are also being considered at this time.”
