Кодът по-долу 100% работи. Опитайте,
$this->db->select('id,memo,sent_to,sent_by,read_by,date');
$this->db->from('memos');
$this->db->where("FIND_IN_SET('1',`sent_to`) !=", 0);
$this->db->order_by('`id`','DESC');
$this->db->get();