By Correspondent.
Dance queen.
Dance queen and brand ambassador, Mrs Usiwo Orezimena Jane, popularly known as JANEMENA, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over cyberstalking and criminal defamation of her character by actress and movie producer,Tonto Dikeh.
The petition, written on her behalf by her solicitors, R. A. Igelige, Esq of Felix, Igelige & Associates, alleged that Tonto Dikeh caused to be published in her social media handles, purported voice notes.
The notes, they added, suggested that the sex tapes of Janemena and one Joseph Egbri (Prince Kpokpogri) were being held by the said Prince Kpokpogri with the intention of Kpokpogri using them to blackmail Janemena
“In the said social media handles (Facebook and Instagram pages), Tonto Dikeh is said to have published voice notes, saying: “After listening to these leaked voice notes between JOSEPH EGBRI (fake name Prince Kpokpogri) and Merit, I personally called my relationship off with a man I honestly LOVE.
“This may be good time to say @Janemena,this man has so much of your sex tapes with him in his possession (old and very recent). Not just you, but alot of other married women, celebrities and single girls too.
“If he hasn’t blackmailed any (sic) you yet, it’s a matter of time.
“The aforesaid publications in her Facebook page which has 6.2 million followers and Instagram page which has followership of 6.9 million persons was read by her wide readership and followers on social media.
“And it went viral, thereby becoming cheap fodder to many bloggers like Linda Ikeji, and other mainstream media houses who re-published same.
“The print media like Punch newspaper and others also re-published it. Further, the libelous story was shared and liked by her followers with several others commenting on it,”Janemena’s solicitors averred.
According her solicitors, the malicious publications and in the context in which it was made, meant that Janemena understands it to mean the following amongst other things.
They said:”First, Janemena, who is a married woman had and is still having an amorous or sexual relationship with Prince Kpokpogri (referred to in the publications as Joseph Egbri) who is not Jamena’s husband.
“Secondly, Janemena is cheating on her lawful husband and thirdly, Janemena has sex tapes. Janemena distributes sex tapes.
“And that Janemena’s sex tapes, both old and very recent ones, are in possession of prince Kpokpohri, Joseph Egbri, with which he will use to blackmail our client any moment from now.”
Igelige added that by Tonto Dikeh’s reckless and ill-motivated publications, which she made without verifying the facts in spite knowing that Janemena is a married woman, had brought Janemena to public ridicule.
“Odium and opprobrium in the comity of Isoko women, her business associates, friends, members of her family,” they further said.
The solicitors, however,
sought immediate retraction of the publications under reference in and by all social media platforms where Dikeh have accounts.
“Such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube among others, publication of the retraction of your aforesaid publications in four national dailies in Nigeria.
“And tender unreserved apology to Janemena in respect of the malicious publication, subject matters of this letter through a personal letter signed by you.
“Publication of the letter of apology in all social media platforms, where you have accounts, to such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
“Publication of the letter of apology over your aforesaid publications in four national dailies in Nigeria, and payment of the sum of N500,000,000 to our client through our law office as exemplary damages for the malicious publications,” they further sought.
Igelige,therefore, warned that if the firm do not receive her formal retraction, letter of apology and the sum demanded above within one month of the receipt,”we shall commence legal action, civil and criminal against you in a court of competent jurisdiction,to seek redress for Janemena.
“We appeal to concerned individuals and communities in cyberspace not to hastily conclude that our client is guilty of the allegations against her and as such, not to be treated as a social pariah.
“Until the truth is established. “Usually in matters like this, lies run sprints, but truth runs marathons.”
Therefore, Dikeh is being given this golden opportunity to prove her allegation in court, because, “he who asserts must prove same to be true,as a requirement of the law”, the solicitors said.
