A Yoruba culture and traditions’ promoter, Joel Olaniyi Oyatoye has sued a Nigerian actress Mrs Elizabeth Anjorin – Lawal, for defaming him.
In a suit filed before a Lagos State High Court , the promoter is demanding a N30 million compensation for damages done to him for a libelous publication against him.
According to him,the defendant was contracted to participate in the Asa 2018 programme and that all issues relating to her participation and engagement in the programme were sorted out effectively.
He said on the 30th of January 2021, he was called by acquaintances concerning a post on social media attributed to the defendant, titled: ‘The fraudster of Manitoba and the fraudster of Winnipeg’ which alleged that he perpetrated fraud on the defendant and the people connected her, which the defendant allegedly introduced to him.
He said in the writ of summon that the content of the post is damaging and disparaging and bring him to utter contempt, disrepute and odium in the estimation of right thinking Nigerians in the Diaspora who know the claimant.
He said he was compelled to brief a firm of solicitors – Messrs Eko Akete Chambers on the 1st of February 2021 to complain of the defamatory content of the post of the defendant against him.
“Messrs Eko Akete Chambers was compelled to write a letter to the defendant on the 1st of February, 2021 addressed and delivered to her same. In spite of the delivery of the letter to the defendant, she disregarded the letter and proceeded to publish and commission the publication of a further defamatory post against him ,” Oyatoye said.
According to Oyatoye, he prayed the court to order the defendant to promptly and immediately withdraw the posting put on the Instagram and other social media platforms; tender an unreserved apology to be posted on the same Instagram and other social media platforms in which the original defamatory words were aired or posted; and to pay him N30m as damages for the wrongful and unlawful assassination of his character as well as perpetual injunction against the defendant from engaging in any other damaging post on social media or any other platform concerning, touching and or affecting him.
Besides, Oyatoye , has alleged threat to his life following the legal action against Anjorin
He claimed in a statement that since he filed the court action he has been harassed by unknown persons threatening him to withdraw the case or face the consequences.
