Baba Ijesha saga: Iyabo Ojo files N100m lawsuit against Yomi Fabiyi for ‘defamation’

Iyabo Ojo, Nigerian actress, has filed a N100 million lawsuit against Yomi Fabiyi for alleged defamation.

The pair have been at loggerheads over their contradictory views in the case of Baba Ijesha, their colleague accused of molesting a 14-year-old girl.

Ojo and Comedian Princess, the foster mother of the teenager allegedly molested, had vehemently opposed rumoured attempts to release Baba Ijesha, who earlier admitted to assaulting the minor, on bail.

But Yomi had demanded the release of their embattled colleague on bail while investigation continues into the matter.

TheCable Lifestyle had reported how Fabiyi led a protest to demand for the release of the 48-year-old actor, whose real name is Olarenwaju James.

In the suit by Maverick Forte Legal, Ojo’s legal team, the actress accused Fabiyi of carrying placards with defamatory statements against her.

The suit also cited an inscription on one of the placards which read: “Nigeria Police please allow the law to dictate to you not Iyabo Ojo, Princess and co. Please release Baba Ijesha.”

It also mentioned another which read: “Iyabo Ojo and Princess promised to kill Baba Ijesha if released on bail in this era??”

According to the suit, the statements, which also appeared on Fabiyi’s Instagram page, had allegedly damaged Ojo’s “hard-earned reputation, vilify her integrity, rubbish her professional career as a businesswoman, entertainer and artiste…”

“Take further notice that consequent upon your false, odious, malicious, vexatious and ludicrous statement and publication against our client which were broadcasted through your Instagram handle, viewed by a huge number of people and further published by several online blogs and newspaper outlets stemming from your orchestrated scheme that has so far damaged our client’s hard-earned reputation, vilify her integrity, rubbish her professional career as a businesswoman, entertainer and artiste, and more so caused our clients children grievous trauma and anxiety since the publication of your defamatory statement,” it read.

“It is expedient to state that your defamatory publication has lowered our client’s estimation in the eyes of right-thinking members of the society. Our client has equally suffered huge stigmatisation by business partners, mental agony, restlessness, public scorn, emotional distress, professional indignation, intense psychological trauma, vilification and financial losses by the sudden withdrawal of business patronage by clients and customers.”

“The actress demanded, among others, that Fabiyi “publishes a full retraction of the said defamatory publication on his Instagram handle for seven consecutive days and acknowledge that the allegations are false, misleading and entirely defamatory of client’s character.”

She also demanded that the actor “ceases and desists from making further, additional or fresh defamatory publications against our client on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and on any other social media, social messaging blog and/or print media outlets.

“Also, N100 million must be paid as damages for the unjustifiable injury and losses occasioned by our client caused by your defamatory publication.”

It warned that legal proceedings would be initiated against the actor if the listed demands are not met within 14 days.

Reacting in an Instagram post, Fabiyi hit back at the actress, describing the suit as lacking merits.

“Ignore any unnecessary civil suits attached to my name, I don’t dignify everybody with a response. Not even a non-criminal suit that lack merits and grounds. I don’t have time to waste walai. Your lawyer will never tell you how many months, funds and process involve in civil suits,” he wrote.

“Anyway, anybody drowning will cling on anything to survive. Save your money for feed and tiktok costumes, don’t let any lawyer eat your money iyawo mi. You deserve better dear, time still dey to make a detour and save your face. I don’t deal in social media court. Enjoy the funny moments.”