Now that the Afrobeats musician Azeez Fashola who is also known as Naira Marley has had his freedom handed back to him, he is looking to repair all the damage that had been done to his name, which included the disrepute caused to him by the Nollywood actress, Iyabo Ojo who report finds has been given an ultimatum which she must fulfil or risk being sued to court.

The ultimatum, filed through Naira Marley’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN) & CO. demanded an apology to be sent in within seven days of a letter filed on Tuesday, 12 December. Should the actress fail to apologise for posting libellous content about the ‘Body’ singer on her Iyaboojoofespris Instagram page, the consequence according to the ultimatum will amount to up to ₦500 million in damages.

This apology, if it comes, is to be published in a national daily as well as Iyabo Ojo’s social profile.  The apology, as Naira Marley’s lawyer puts it, is the penance that Miss Ojo must give to avoid being sued in court for defamation.

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In the heat of the awful feelings that accompanied the untimely death of Ilerioluwa Alobo ‘Mohbad’ on Tuesday, 12 September, online criticism focusing on alleged bullying by Naira Marley of the deceased rented his social media comments section, especially on Instagram.

Elsewhere in a social media video, a Yoruba spiritualist could be seen cursing his god to wreak havoc in all Naira Marley’s affairs so that he would never find favour as an artist. For a moment, it seemed like the curses were materialising as the label exec was arrested by the police although he turned himself in back in October.

All the ill-feeling and misfortune that followed him ever since Mohbad’s death Naira Marley believes were the result of Miss Ojo’s negative criticism of him that resulted in being termed a villain.

“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 above-headed 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.”

When Mohbad, a former signee under Naira Marley’s Marlian World Music label passed away in September, the blame for his death spread across to his career associates like Naira Marley, the nurse who treated him following a post-concert injury and childhood friends. It was a messy ordeal that led to the police remand of five primary suspects which included Balogun Olamilekan Eletu ‘Sam Larry’, a show promoter who also had dealings with Mohbad.

After getting bail in November, Sam Larry alongside Naira Marley was seen relishing their freedom in a vehicle’s backseat. The past months had morphed into an ordeal that they won’t find themselves forgetting so soon.

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