Defamation: Actress demands N500m from Mercy Aigbe, Linda Ikeji

Mercy Aigbe

Actress Opemititi Ajayi, aka Queen Stunner, is demanding N500million each from her colleague, Mercy Aigbe, and celebrity blogger, Linda Ikeji, over allegation that they labelled her a prostitute and husband snatcher.

Aigbe, whose marriage to Lanre Gentry has hit the rocks over claims of domestic violence and adultery, had accused the complainant in a Broadway TV interview of sleeping with her estranged husband.

In a letter from Opemititi’s lawyer, Chief Afolabi Fashanu, SAN, dated May 15, 2017, Aigbe was quoted to have said thus: “The last incident started a few days ago when I discovered that my husband was sleeping with a lady who is my best friend, Opemititi, and his PAs. We were very close friends.”

However, Ajayi in the letter denied that they were friends as claimed by Aigbe, adding that she did not at any time sleep with her husband.

“Your defamatory words have no doubt had an adverse effect on the reputation of our client in the estimation of right-thinking people both home and abroad. It has further exposed her to hatred, contempt or ridicule, the effect of which is that she is now being shunned or avoided by close friends and business associates,” the letter added.

The lawyer argued that Aigbe’s publication was against provisions of Cyber Crime Act for which under conviction, she might end up in jail.

He said his client has instructed that Aigbe should pay her the sum of N500 million as damages.

Opemititi is also demanding N500 million from Ms Ikeji for defamation, claiming that the blogger’s publication on her blog, dated April 28, 2017, had an adverse effect on her reputation in the estimation of right-thinking people.

In the said article, Linda Ikeji posted thus on her blog: “Another Nollywood marriage has crashed, the details are quite messy and yet again, another fair skinned lady has been fingered to have allegedly caused the marriage crash.

The letter by Opemititi’s lawyer reads:”Our client has denied vehemently that she did not at any time or any occasion have any affair with Mercy Aigbe’s husband as falsely published in your blog.

“By your publication, you have portrayed our client as a prostitute, husband snatcher and indeed, a woman of easy virtue.”

Opemititi’s lawyers gave a seven-day ultimatum to Aigbe and Ikeji to issue retractions and public apologies on the same Broadway TV, including their personal social media platforms.