Court stalls ruling on 2Face Idibia, Efe Omorogbe’s N53 million defamation suit against Blackface
Emmanuel Ukudolo l Wednesday, March 20, 2019
LAGOS, Nigeria – A Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikeja, today adjourned ruling on the N53 million suit filed by iconic R&B crooner, Innocent Idibia better known as 2Face Idibia and CEO of Now Musik and factional Chairman of Copyright Society of Nigeria(COSON), Mr. Efe Omorogbe against Augustine Ahmedu better known as Blackface.
Tuface and Omorogbe are seeking N50 million as damages and N3 million as cost, making a total of N53 million.
Blackface has on several occasion accused 2Face Idibia of copyright theft, alleging that he remains the original owner of 2Face’s ‘Let Somebody Love You’ and was bent on disparaging the artiste. He claimed to have written the song while both were in the now defunct, musical group, Plantashun Boyz.
Counsel to the two claimants, Justin Ige had sought the attention of the presiding judge, Justice Josephine Oyefeso to call his case since he is indisposed to enable him go and take care of his health. But the presiding judge had to appologise that she had instructed her registrar to send text messages informing him that the ruling had been adjourned.
“I have no ruling today. You will be informed when a new date is fixed”, the judge said.
Innocent Idibia and Efe Omoregbe are seeking a declaration that the statement published on the tweeter platform of the defendant on the 24th day of January 2016 is defamatory to the first and second claimants: a declaration that the statement published on the tweeter platform of the defendant is injurious to the reputation and business of the first and second defendants; declaration that the defematory statements made incited and caused to be published by the defendant on the 31 of January on 36.Ng.com is defamatory of the claimant’s person, character, office and profession.
They are also seeking further declaration that the statement as made in a interview incited and caused to be published on premiumtimes online on the 23 day of April 2017 is defamatory of the claimants; a declaration that the statement made by the defendant over video published by Pulseng on YouTube on the 6th day of November 2017 slandered the person, character, credibility and calling, trade and profession of the claimants
They also sought an an order of probibitory injunction, against the defendant preventing him from continued publication of the offensive statement defamatory of the first and second claimants as contained on his tweeter handle, Blackfacenaija and an order of probibitory injunction preventing the defendant from further making statements defamatory of the first and second claimants; an order of prohibitory injunction preventing the defendant from continued publication of the libelous and slandorous statements against the first and second claimants published on newsite or video.
No date has been fixed by the judge to rule on the matter.
The Bone of contention
Tuface Idibia has often said he does not know the reason Blackface has declared a full blown war against him, stressing that his assailant remains the only person to to explain.
In his recent interview, Blackface gave the reason for the war between him and 2Face, his erstwhile friend in Plantashun Boyz. According to him, the bone of contention is that he remains the original owner of the song, Let Somebody Love You and that 2Face’s manager, Efe Omorogbe must take his name off the music.
See ‘Let Somebody Love You’ is my song, I told them my conditions that the manager must take his name out.” #2Face #BlackFace – #regrann
