Toke Makinwa faces N50bn lawsuit over alleged defamation of businessman

Nigerian celebrity and On-Air Personality, Toke Makinwa, has been given a 48-hour ultimatum to retract an allegation made against an Abuja-based businessman, Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu, or risk a N50 billion naira defamation lawsuit.

The allegation published against the business man claimed Toke Makinwa was in a relationship with him and that he had made promises to her which were not fulfilled.

It was widely reported that Toke had slammed a lawsuit against the supposed lover following the unfulfilled promises.

But in a swift reaction to the rumours, Alhaji Aliyu expressed surprises at the allegation making the rounds on social media platforms, saying he has never met Makinwa in his life and wondered why she would make such spurious and malicious allegations against him.

A press statement by Media Aide, Kadiri Joseph, quoted Alhaji Aliyu as saying he is a responsible married man with children and will never stoop so low to such an act.

He described the allegation as a cheap blackmail by his detractors to ridicule him and bring him to disrepute.

Alhaji Aliyu is, therefore, demanding that Toke Makinwa retracts the allegation and tenders an unreserved apology that must be published in at least seven national dailies and in all the online platform where the allegation were originally published.

He is also demanding that all the online platforms pull down the false publication and apologise for not verifying the story before going to press as responsible journalism demands.

He said failure to do this within the next 48 hours, he would have no option but to approach a court of competent jurisdiction for redress.

Alhaji Aliyu said ” I do not know this girl in question, my detractors are at work. How? When? This is pure defamation, she must retract this false allegation”.

“I have spoken to my lawyers to take appropriate action.”