Popular Nigerian singer, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has filed a lawsuit against fellow Nigerian artist, Dammy Krane, whose real name is Oyindamola Johnson Emmanuel, over alleged defamatory posts.
Dammy Krane had accused Davido, labelling him a murderer, the allegations which have rapidly spread across the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) and been syndicated by numerous blogs.
According to the post he had made on X, “Never get married because your Gail caught you cheating you wan gbe-iya-wo (carry suffer look) congratulations owe b owe.”
Davido, through his lawyer Chikaosolu Ojukwu, SAN, said Dammy Krane was given 24 hours to retract all the offensive publications he made on all his social media handles or face a lawsuit.
Consequently, the Claimant, in a letter numbered REF: OC/EXT/VOL/127/2024, issued through her lawyer, stated, “We write to you on behalf of our esteemed client, Mr. David O. Adeleke, OON, popularly known as Davido, and we have his firm instructions to issue this correspondence in the terms set forth herein.”
“Our client is well known around the world as an accomplished and multiple award-winning singer-songwriter, global celebrity and a philanthropist. He is also the recipient of the prestigious National Honour of the Order of the Niger (OON).
“We are informed by our client that you have repeatedly published statements on your social media platforms that he finds not only defamatory and offensive but which also constitute an act of cyberbullying.
“Our client has further informed us that whilst in Abuja, he became aware of the latest in your series of defamatory posts, which is your publication of June 21, 2024, which you caused to be published on your X (formerly “Twitter”) page using the handle @dammy_krane, wherein you stated thus:
“The simple imputation to be drawn from this post is that, amongst other reprehensible things, our client is a murderer. Our client vehemently asserts that contrary to the insinuations in your post, he has never been charged with or convicted of any offence, including murder. The false nature of your publications is evident, and it is clear that you have not verified their accuracy. The malicious nature of your post is also evident from your subsequent post taunting our client and stating that “HE CAN’T SUE BECAUSE I SPEAK THE TRUTH OPONU”, when in fact you know your allegations to be false and outlandish.
“The above posts which you published to your over 342,600 (Three Hundred and Forty-Two Thousand, Six Hundred) followers on the X platform have been circulated globally and syndicated by hundreds of blogs across the world. Given the status of our client, this post has unsurprisingly gained significant traction globally, and our client is at the time of this letter trending at No. 1 on X Trends for Nigeria, attracting thousands of negative comments and reactions in the process.
“Your conduct in publishing these statements, despite knowing them to be false, is not only malicious but also orchestrated to defame and injure the reputation of our client, a globally recognized music star. Such actions constitute a civil breach as well as an infraction of the relevant criminal laws.
“Within 24 hours from the date of this letter, remove and retract the offensive publication from all your social media platforms.
“ Immediately refrain from any further publication of defamatory statements against our client on any platform whatsoever.
“TAKE NOTICE that your failure to comply with these demands within the stipulated timeframe will compel our client to pursue all available legal remedies, including but not limited to initiating legal proceedings against you for damages and injunctive relief, and escalating this matter to the relevant law enforcement agencies.”
The letter stated that the Afrobeat musician is prepared to take all necessary steps to protect his reputation.
