Admin l Tuesday, October 31, 2017
IKOYI, Lagos, Nigeria – American based Nigerian Model, Miss Nneoma Anosike (21) has dragged Wema Bank Plc before a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos for allegedly deploying her photographs in an advertisement without her consent.
model, Nneoma Anosike
Nneoma Anosike, a 2014 brand Ambassador of Pepsi Cola Nigeria is seeking the sum of N75 million as exemplary and aggravated damages, for passing off her services. The plaintiff is claiming the sum of N20 million as damages for breach of her privacy, by advertising her photograph without her consent.
Anosike also seeks a public apology from the defendant, to be advertised in National dailies in the U.S and Nigeria. At the resumed hearing of the case, the sole witness for the plaintiff, Mr Frank Anosike, her father continued his examination in chief.
Led in evidence by his lawyer, Mr Gideon Okebu, Anosike told the court that his daughter entered into a three years management contract with an international firm, named Ford Model Incorporated New York, in 2014.
He said that the plaintiff was granted an American Visa through the instrumentality of Ford, following which she traveled from Nigeria to the United States, to continue her career solely under Ford.
According to the witness, on April 11, 2016, his daughter was requested to attend a meeting with the board of Ford where she was presented with photographic advert of her picture from Instagram, which was photo-edited by Wema bank and further advertised on their website.
He said that his daughter’s picture was used for the advert on Wema Bank’s corporate logo beside her face with the words, “Be yourself, Everyone else is taken”
According to him, this projection of his daughter by Wema Bank was with the aim of projecting their value and good will using the fame and popularity of the plaintiff. He stated that this act of the defendant, constituted a breach of his daughter’s agreement with Ford Model, as it has caused a retraction of contract extension by the firm.
Justice Ibrahim Buba has adjourned until November 20 for cross examination of the witness. In her suit, Anosike also claims special damages of N2million as cost of action, plus 21 percent interest on sum. Besides, she is seeking a declaration that she is entitled to her privacy and those of her correspondences, under section 37 of the 1999 constitution
