Mohbad: Naira Marley Files N500m Lawsuit Against Iyabo Ojo, Demands Apology For Defamation

Nigerian rapper Afeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, has filed a lawsuit against Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo, accusing her of spreading false and defamatory content on social media.

Naira Marley’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, detailed the allegations in a letter to Ojo, citing a September 2023 post where she accused the rapper of engaging in spiritual and physical dealings with the late singer, Mohbad.

The lawyer contended that Ojo also accused Naira Marley of causing mental harm to Mohbad, whom she referred to as a brother.

Naira Marley’s legal representation argued that Ojo’s Instagram post, widely accessible to users, constitutes a serious case of libel, causing significant damage to the rapper’s reputation.

The lawyer highlights the global reach of the defamatory content, which has led to public ridicule and contempt, affecting Naira Marley’s standing in the eyes of his followers, colleagues, friends, and fans worldwide.

Seeking redress, Naira Marley’s attorney is demanding a public apology and the sun of N500 million in damages.

The lawyer specified that the apology should be posted on Ojo’s official Instagram account and published in a national daily.

The letter emphasized that failure to comply with these conditions would lead to a lawsuit against the actress.

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.

“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 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 libellous publication you had maliciously and falsely posted on your official instagram handle “iyaboojofespris” of and concerning our Client.”

KanyiDaily recalls that Iyabo Ojo recently disclosed her past experience of taking her children to Naira Marley’s home, alleging that he drugged their food and drinks with illegal substances.