In a significant legal ruling, a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikoyi has dismissed a high-profile ₦1 billion defamation lawsuit filed by popular Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo against her colleague, Lizzy Anjorin. The presiding judge, Justice Olabisi Akinlade, struck out the case after determining that it was fundamentally flawed due to multiple procedural violations in its filing.
The court not only dismissed the suit but also imposed a ₦500,000 cost on Ojo’s legal representative, Dr. Olabimpe Ajegbomogun, to be paid to Anjorin’s lawyer, Barrister Ademola Olabiyi.
The legal battle, registered as suit no. LD/ADR/5292/2023, was initiated by Iyabo Ojo, who accused Lizzy Anjorin of making defamatory statements against her. Ojo sought ₦1 billion in damages, claiming that Anjorin’s alleged remarks had harmed her reputation. However, Anjorin’s defense team swiftly challenged the validity of the lawsuit, arguing that Ojo’s legal team had failed to comply with essential court procedures.
Justice Akinlade’s ruling hinged on several critical errors in Ojo’s legal filings such as the unsigned Pre-Trial Compliance Form. One of the most glaring issues was the absence of a signature from Ojo’s lawyer on a mandatory pre-trial compliance form. This document is crucial as it confirms that all necessary steps before trial have been properly followed. The court ruled that this omission alone was enough to invalidate the entire lawsuit.
Read Also: Veteran Actress Joke Silva Celebrates Husband Olu Jacobs at 83
The Writ of Summons—the legal document that formally commences a lawsuit—was found to be improperly drafted. The court noted that it lacked clarity in outlining Ojo’s claims and did not conform to the required legal format.
Anjorin’s legal team further exposed discrepancies in the court file, pointing out that several documents were either unsigned or uncertified. When the court registry reviewed the case file, it was discovered that the original Writ of Summons remained unsigned, while the submitted copy was merely an ordinary photocopy rather than a certified true copy as required by law.
Ojo’s legal team attempted to downplay these irregularities, describing them as minor technicalities that could be amended before trial. However, Justice Akinlade firmly rejected this argument, emphasizing that the absence of a signature on the original Writ of Summons was a fundamental defect that rendered the lawsuit invalid from the outset.
For now, Lizzy Anjorin emerges victorious in this legal round.
