Nigerian entertainer Afeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, has initiated legal proceedings against actress Iyabo Ojo, accusing her of spreading untrue and defamatory content on her Instagram account.
In a letter addressed to Ojo, Naira Marley’s attorney, Olalekan Ojo, detailed the allegations stemming from a September 2023 post. The letter highlighted that the actress accused Naira Marley of participating in both spiritual and physical activities with the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, widely known as Mohbad.
The lawyer further contended that Ojo accused Naira Marley of inflicting mental distress upon Mohbad, whom she referred to as a brother.
Naira Marley’s legal representative is pursuing compensation of N500 million from Ojo along with a public apology.
The attorney has requested that the apology be shared on Ojo’s official Instagram account and published in a national daily.
Naira Marley’s lawyer warned that failure to comply with these conditions would result in them proceeding to file a lawsuit against her.
The letter in part reads, “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.”