[size=14pt]Libel: Asa slams N700m suit on magazine[/size]
By Davidson Iriekpen, 02.05.2010
Friday, February 5, 2010

Lagos

Award-winning Nigerian-born jazz and soul musician, Bukola Elemide, a, k.a Asa, has slammed a N700 million suit against publishers and editors of a Lagos based soft-sell magazine, ‘News of the People’ magazine at the Lagos High Court.

http://odili.net/news/source/2010/feb/5/201.html

In a writ of summons instituted on her behalf by Lagos lawyer, Mena Ajakpovi, the musician and her manager, Janet Nwose, have sued the reporter of the alleged defamatory story, the editor of the magazine and the registered parent company of the magazine.

The claimants have sought an order of court, declaring the allegation of lesbianism against Asa and Janet as false, illegal and a violation of their rights, more so that the allegation is entirely false.

They stated that the defendants have in most reckless manner portrayed them as loose, licentious and persons with perverted sexual orientation who lack any claim to moral rectitude.

They added since the publication they have been inundated with phone calls from relatives, friends and fans on the matter and that this has affected the perception of people to their persons.

They argued that the defamatory statement is calculated to discredit and malign them in their unblemished careers as international music artistes with high moral standing which they have consistently conveyed in their songs and interactions with their teeming fans in Nigeria and abroad.

In the summons, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent, Asa claimed that the publication was not only malicious but also a clear case of a well-orchestrated plan by Publishers of the magazine to bring down her and also bring her into disrepute.

She added that she filed the action to clear her name and sustain her good reputation and that of her Manager. In addition to the declaratory orders, the two dreadlocks wearing ladies, Asa and Janet , have sued the defendants for a sum of N700million as damages.

They have also sought further orders of court restraining the defendants from further publication of malicious statements against them.

It will be recalled that in the Dec 14-22, 2009 edition of the ‘News of the People’ a story captioned “Lesbianism trails Asa and Manager” was published, alleging that the two ladies were involved in a lesbian relationship.

That amount is too much

She looks like a lesbo though

All of us look like something. If she ain't lesbo, no need to call her one.

even if she is, what does it change?

Na so Uzoma win 100M.

That should teach 'em a lesson, publishing trash just to sell copies.

I wish it was nigeriafilms.com and ghanastars that was blasted with dat N700m suit, those guys post anything on their website as if they have some kind of personal vendetta with their victim.

nellaluv:

I wish it was nigeriafilms.com and ghanastars that was blasted with dat N700m suit, those guys post anything on their website as if they have some kind of personal vendetta with their victim.

If you slam them with major lawsuit, they will close down and open a new gossip site with a name close to the closed one. There is what is called Libel rights, these  tabloids can write whatever they want about anybody  as long as there is no proof of malicious intent. Asa can only get a written  apology from her lawsuit.


Anyway, she looks like a dyke tho.

Libel rights u kidding me. Neva heard of it . Any printed libel stinks of malicious intent.

Aaaah, so nella still dey NL? BTW, I thought u & Numaj were an item. . . .why be sey u still dey find val?

Na wa o! Asa, a lesbian?

Who's numaj? . Anyways if u want to be my val, i've got a list of items 4 u.

@ nella
^^Sorry, you've got the wrong guy. Go sell your market elsewhere.

^ ^ ^ oh shut-up, who needs u anyway

ajah.:

Na wa o! Asa, a lesbian?

You never know. Who is banging her if she is not lesbian?

Anyway, we would watch this thing unfold in court.

I sincerely hope she achieves something with this. It will serve as deterent to others to publish only what they know.
Come to think of it, 700million? Even if na AIT sef!

nellaluv:

^ ^ ^ oh shut-up, who needs u anyway

My refusal dey pain you shey?

Asa*.*. Asa.*.*.*

bring 'em down

Lol @ semid, u wish. I got my gold i mean val, right here on my doorstep

@ Nella
Na em you dey hawk your market all over NL shey? LWKMD!

^ ^ if they send u, tell them say u no see me o. Remember say na u find me come.

700milla
where will the get the money from
thy'll rather go to prison for 12 months than shell out 700milla

as someone said, they'll file for bankruptcy and start biz afresh with a new name

When did the topic become that of semi nd nella own ? U guys shld allow us hear word jare !

get 'em tiger

Sorry for that,

but looks like one.

too mean!

.y0u Go GURL!!

700 million?

I dont care if she wins or not, but it's definitely a smart move. . . u dont just sit down and take s.hit from a bunch of retards who are looking to make any kobo by dragging you in the dirt!

Sue em for every penny they are not worth!

before the get d money, they'd sell their House, cars, business, dogs, kids, wives and themselves {not necessarily in that order tho}

na she husband and the other babe be wife

It is good to test cases in court but in Nigeria peaple are afraid to go to court . Asa may not get the 700m but it will teach the margazine the lesson of getting their facts right before going to the press . It is not right to destroy people simply because you want to make money . I wish Asa luck in court