Nigerian actress, Iyabo Ojo, has demanded N1billion from singer, Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, for failing to deliver a letter that was made public.
SaharaReporters reported on December 14, that Naira Marley demanded the sum of N500million and a public apology from Iyabo Ojo for the alleged dissemination of false and defamatory information about him on her Instagram account.
Naira Marley, who has recently been in the news for the wrong reasons, was detained by the Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Command over the death of his former signee, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.
In a letter posted on his Instagram page, the singer threatened to sue the actress if she failed to meet his demand.
Naira Marley in a letter sent to Iyabo through his lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, accused the actress of making an Instagram post in September 2023, accusing him of engaging in spiritual and physical dealings with Mohbad.
According to him, the actress accused him of causing mental harm to Mohbad.
But in what appeared as a counter reply, the actress in her letter which was made public via her verified Instagram page on Monday, described the letter as a social media blackmail.
Ojo through her lawyer, O. I. Salami Esq, said she would have ordinarily dismissed the letter dated 12th December 2023 “for being outrightly inconsequential and of no relevance, premised on your failure to transmit the correspondence till this very day.”
Salami, a principal partner at the Maverick Forte Legal Epicenter stated: “Our client would’ve ordinarily dismissed your letter dated 12th December 2023 for being outrightly inconsequential and of no relevance, premised on your failure to transmit the correspondence till this very day.
“Our client finds your client’s demands spurious, frivolous, and clout-chasing but shall initiate an action in case your client fails to do so. Our client shall be claiming the sum of one billion naira.”
Ojo’s lawyers further stated that Naira Marley’s letter was intended to cause grievous harm.
Addressed to Marley’s Counsel Olalekan Ojo (SAN), the letter partly read:
“TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that our client finds your client’s demands as spurious, frivolous, and clout chasing but shall initiate an action in the event your client fails to do so.
“Our client shall be claiming the sum of ONE BILLION NAIRA (N1, 000, 000, 000.00) deliberately misleading the public a letter was served on her with the intent of causing grievous harm which have indeed led to grievous loss of income and lower her standards amongst right thinking individuals, Nigerian and International associates, corporate institutions and reputable companies our client works for as ambassadors and/or COUNTER – CLAIM against your client in the sum of ONE BILLION NAIRA (N1, 000, 000, 000.00) for first bringing to the media and/or public, a letter addressed to her BUT DELIBERATELY NOT DELIVERED/SERVED.
“Our client believes law is a noble profession administered by the best of brains both on the bench and from the bar, hence the burden of truth, dignity, mutual respect, civility and decorum placed on the shoulders of legal practitioners, are crucial in the administration of justice thus the age description, counsel are ministers in the temple of justice.
“It is in view of the foregoing, our client hereby unequivocally demands that, for an unreserved apology letter from you, the Learned Silk, the signatory of the letter of 12 December, 2023, for releasing (the letter) same to the public and social media, without (expected best obtainable practice and courtesy) adherence of ethics of first ensuring same (letter) was delivered and served on her, otherwise, our client shall take appropriate steps to address this unfortunate issue bordering professional conduct.
“Learned Silk, be assured of our highest professional courtesy whilst looking forward to your earnest response at no distant time, please.”