Singer Naira Marley has threatened actress Iyabo Ojo with a defamation suit, demanding 500 million naira and a public apology for allegedly publishing malicious content about him.
Iyabo has been been making a series of accusations against the Marlian boss since his former signee Mohbad died under controversial circumstances on September 12. She claimed Naria Marley bullied Mohabad and tried introducing her children to drugs.
In the letter dated December 12, Naira Marley through his lawyers accused Iyabo of making libellous posts about him and demanded a public apology within seven days or she will be dragged to court.
The lawyers further asserted that Iyabo accused Naira Marley of causing mental harm to Mohbad, whom he referred to as a brother.
The letter read in parts, “We are Solicitors to Azeez Fashola (a.k.a. Naira Marley) an internationally renowned British and Nigerian Singer/Artist with over seven million followers hereinafter referred to as our client pursuant to whose instruction we write concerning the aboveheaded subject matter.
“It is necessary to preface this letter by stating that in recognition of the iconic status of our client, the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) engaged him to use his skills and platforms to put out content that will discourage millions of his followers and Nigerian youths from substance abuse.
“It is our instruction that sometime in September 2023, you maliciously and falsely published of and concerning our client on your official Instagram handle ‘iyaboojofespris’ the following words: ‘And destroying their lives and leaving them without a kobo to get help…….you go still explain taya bcos evidence dey, that your interview you go still re do am again…….make we get justice for Mohbad first'”.
“It is unarguably clear that the above-quoted words are in their ordinary and natural meanings meant or were understood to mean by ordinary right-thinking members of the public that have read the post that our Client is a drug addict and that he laced the food and drinks which our Client gave to the boys staying with him with drugs with the resultant effect of occasioning monumental destruction of their lives.
The letter continued: “Your publication of the above words on the internet which is readily accessible to users of the system constituted a very serious libel and has caused our client colossal damage to his reputation.
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“It is incontestably clear that the above-quoted publication which has been read by countless internet users globally is defamatory of our Client and has brought him to public ridicule and contempt with the resultant damage to our Client’s reputation.
“It is our further instruction that since the publication our client has been inundated with calls from his followers, colleagues, friends and fans all over the world who had read the post expressing their disgust and dismay at the defamatory and libellous publication you had maliciously and falsely posted on your official Instagram handle “iyaboojofespris” of and concerning our Client.”
