Nigerian music star, Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, has threatened to sue Nollywood actress, Iyabo Ojo for spreading false and defamatory information against him on the internet.
The Marlian Records boss has demanded N500 million from the actress as damages for the malicious publication.
This is contained in a letter by the singer’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, dated 12th December, 2023 and titled; “RE: DEMAND FOR THE SUM OF N500,000,000 (FIVE HUNDRED MILLION NAIRA) AS DAMAGES FOR THE LIBEL, FALSELY AND MALICIOUS PUBLISHED OF AZEEZ FASHOLA (AKA NAIRA MARLEY) ON YOUR OFFICIAL INSTAGRAM HANDLE.”
The letter reads in part; “It is our instruction that sometimes in September, 2023 you maliciously and falsely published of and concerning our client on your official Instagram handle “Iyaboojofespris” the following words:
“and destroying thei lives and leaving them without a kobo to get help… you go still explain taya bcos evidence dey, that your interview you go still redo am again… make we get justice for Mohbad first.”
“It is unarguably clear that the above quote words are in their ordinary and natural meanings 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 occassioning monumental destruction of their lives.”
“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.”
“Our client further informed us that his attention had been drawn to another publication by you on Instagram handle “Iyaboojofespris” wherein you falsely and maliciously published of and concerning our client the following words;
“Is it that same SamLarry ehn I said Samlarry, Naira Marley that I do send children to abi”
“It is our further instruction that on 18th September you publishd or caused to be published on the same Instagram handle the following words of and concerning our client under the caption “you (Naira Marley) sabotage and dealt with Mohbad” Actress Iyabo Ojo tells Naira Marley.”
“Our clients attention has been drawn to another publication published on your official Instagram handle with so much online engagement, which is a slanderous innuendo that our Client had a hand in the death of Ilerioluwa Aloba (a.k.a Mohbad) and same was shared by a popular blog “Instablog”.”
“In the above circumstances, our client requires of you within seven days after the receipt or delivery of this letter an unequivocal retraction of the official Instagram handle “Iyaboojofespris” in September 2023 or thereabout.”
“This public apology is to be published on your official Instagram handle “Iyaboojofespris” and also on one national daily within 7 days from the receipt of this letter.”
“Please be informed that failure to comply with our Client’s demands will leave us with no other choice than to commence legal proceedings before the High Court of Lagos against you for the following reliefs:
1) N500,000,000.00 being damages for the libel in respect of the words published of and concerning the Claimant (Azeez Fashola (A.K.A Naira Marley) on your Instagram handle.”
2) Public Apology
3) Injuction restraining the Defendant by herself, her servants or otherwise however from repeating the same or simlar libel published of or concerning the Defendant on your (the Defendants instagram handle) or by any other means.”
See the copies of the orinal letter below:
