Sensational singer, D`Banj, is still going ahead with the N1.5bn libel suit filed against Seyitan Babatayo after she withdrew her petition submitted to the Inspector-General of Police.
D`Banj had on the 3rd of July 2020, filed a 1.5 billion naira defamation suit before an FCT High Court requesting the court to order Seyitan to tender a letter of apology for the accusations directed at him, which he claimed has caused him “embarrassment, ridicule, derision, marital disharmony, mental agony, and psychological trauma.”
A few weeks later Seyitan, later wrote a letter to the IG withdrawing the petition. However, the singer has deiced to go on with the defamation suit. According to The Punch, D`Banj`s lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), disclosed that they withdrew their petition but the police said they are begging him to withdraw the case. He further revealed that he has not received any letter from his client asking him to withdraw the case.
“They withdrew their petition but the police said they could not prove a case of rape against D`Banj. This fact should not be hidden. It is based on this they are begging him to withdraw the case but I have not received any letter from my client asking me to withdraw the case. So, the case in court is still alive,” Ozekhome said.
In his response to the letter, the IG through the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Admin), Umar Sanda, said the investigation had discontinued due to lack of evidence. The letter posted on Twitter by blogger, Kemi Olunloyo, read in part, “In view of the foregoing facts, investigation was discontinued as no substantial evidence to prove the allegation of rape against the suspect.” Human rights group, Stand To End Rape Initiative, popularly known as STER also revealed via a statement that Seyitan decided to end the case without receiving any monetary compensation.
Also, a lawyer to Seyitan, Mr. Tommy Ojoge-Daniel, said D`Banj had yet to effect service on his client. Ojoge-Daniel said his client decided to withdraw the complaint against D`Banj for personal reasons. He, however, said they would not be intimidated by the N1.5bn libel suit. “We have not yet been served with the processes. However, we are not afraid of any libel suit. Our client only decided to withdraw the petition for personal reasons,” the lawyer said.
