Naira Marley slams N500m defamation suit against Iyabo Ojo

Nigerian singer Afeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, has initiated legal proceedings against actress Iyabo Ojo, accusing her of spreading false and defamatory content on her Instagram account.

In a letter sent by Naira Marley’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, to Ojo, the attorney outlined the allegations arising from a September 2023 post. According to the letter, the actress accused Naira Marley of engaging in both spiritual and physical dealings with the late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, widely known as Mohbad.

The lawyer further claimed that Ojo accused Naira Marley of causing mental harm to Mohbad, whom she referred to as a brother. Seeking redress for these accusations, Naira Marley’s lawyer is demanding N500 million in damages from Ojo, along with a public apology.

The lawyer specified that the apology should be posted on Ojo’s official Instagram account and published in a national daily. Failure to comply with these conditions would prompt Naira Marley to file a lawsuit against her.

The lawyer’s letter emphasized Naira Marley’s iconic status and his engagement with the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to discourage substance abuse among his followers and Nigerian youths.

The letter went on to address the specific statements made by Ojo in September 2023, asserting that her words falsely portrayed Naira Marley as a drug addict and implicated him in lacing food and drinks given to boys staying with him with drugs. The lawyer argued that these allegations, accessible to internet users globally, constituted serious libel and had caused substantial damage to Naira Marley’s reputation.

The letter concluded by highlighting the widespread impact of Ojo’s post, noting the calls Naira Marley received from followers, colleagues, friends, and fans expressing dismay at the defamatory and libelous content posted on Ojo’s Instagram handle.