British-Nigerian singer and artist, Afeez Fashola, widely known as Naira Marley, has initiated legal proceedings against actress Iyabo Ojo. The dispute stems from a September 2023 Instagram post by Ojo, where she made serious allegations against Naira Marley, accusing him of engaging in both spiritual and physical dealings with the late singer Mohbad.
Naira Marley’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, outlined the accusations in a letter sent to Iyabo Ojo. The letter claims that Ojo accused Naira Marley of causing mental harm to Mohbad, referred to as a brother by the singer. The attorney is now seeking redress in the form of a public apology and a substantial sum of N500 million.
The legal representative emphasized the gravity of the situation, asserting that failure to comply with the stipulated conditions would result in a lawsuit against Ojo. The letter demanded the public apology to be posted on Iyabo Ojo’s official Instagram account and published in a national daily.
The allegations made by Iyabo Ojo, as detailed in the letter, suggest that she accused Naira Marley of being a drug addict and intentionally causing harm to individuals under his care by lacing their food and drinks with drugs. The lawyer contends that these statements have caused significant damage to Naira Marley’s reputation, leading to public ridicule and contempt.
Naira Marley’s lawyer also highlighted the artist’s role with the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), where he is engaged to use his influence to discourage substance abuse among his followers and Nigerian youths.
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 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 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.
“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.
“It is incontestably clear that the above quoted publication which has been read by countless internet users globally is defamatory of our Client and has brought him to public ridicule and or contempt with the resultant damage to our Client’s reputation.
“It is our further instruction that since the publication our Client has been inundated with calls from his followers, colleagues, friends and fans all over the world who had read the post expressing their disgust and dismay at the defamatory and libelous publication you had maliciously and falsely posted on your official instagram handle “iyaboojofespris” of and concerning our Client.”
