As we slowly crawl into the last month of the year 2021, this article takes a cursory gaze at the year in review and the run ins Nigerian celebrities have had with the law and the justice system during the course of the year and the consequences of same.
There’s a backlog of celebrity cases from past years and 2020 in particular that for the most part, we’ve not seen the conclusion of, cases like:
Biodun Fatinyinbo vs. Busola Dakolo rape scandal.
Olakunle Churchill had in 2020, slammed a N500 million lawsuit on his estranged wife, Tonto Dikeh, over her infamous interview in May 2019.
As the fight against COVID raged on, Nollywood star, Funke Akindele, and her husband, JJC Skillz, were arraigned in court for throwing a birthday party while a Covid-19 lockdown was still in place. (They pleaded guilty in court and were each fined N100,000. The court also sentenced them to 14 days of community service. It ruled that the couple “shall visit 10 important public places within Lagos State to educate the public on the consequences of non-compliance with the restriction order.”)
The Lagos police command also arraigned Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, and his Manager, Seyi Awouga, for violating the interstate travel ban during the COVID-19 travel restriction.
The Marlian President is one that lives up to his name as he slowly but steadily accumulates his face offs with the law. The singer who was once arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) not so long ago, was also indicted when he showed up at the Funke Akindele party in April 2020. The singer and his manager were arraigned on a one-count charge at the Lagos State Special Offences (Mobile) Court, Oshodi.
In June 2020, D’banj was accused of rape. The lady demanded a public apology from the entertainer through her lawyers.
D’banj on the other hand, through his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, threatened to sue her and demanded N100 million as compensation for falsely accusing him of rape.
In the same letter, the singer also demanded that a letter of apology and retraction of her statements be written by his accuser and published in four national dailies.
FAST FORWARD TO 2021.
This year has had its fair share of celebrity cases. In 2021 we saw –
The case between Baba Ijesha vs. Princess and Iyabo Ojo.
Uche Maduagwu had a case of assault with our favorite Nollywood bad boy – Jim Iyke, one that eye witnesses say did not go too well for the controversial slender figure. Uche Maduagwu also made some allegations of fraud against the seasoned Nollywood actor but that also never saw the light of day.
One of the most ironic twists of 2021 would be the law going after one of its top enforcers – celebrity cop, Abba Kyari who was indicted in the fraudulent franchise of Hushpuppi. The final word on this particular case is in no hurry whatsoever.
2021 saw the fracas that broke out between Tonto Dike and her ex-love interest – Mr. Kpokpogri. This particular episode is arguably the most interesting because it birthed various off shoots, a good example being the alleged suit by Janema against Tonto Dike for defamation. Tonto Dike accused her ex-lover of blackmail, extortion, threat to life, hacking, obtaining by false pretense and cyberstalking, and other troubling allegations. The young man hit back at his ex-lover accusing her of infidelity and drug addiction and filed a petition against Miss. Dikeh, requesting N10 billion compensation – and they say love don’t cost a thing.
Fittingly, on a closing note, 2021 opted for a grand closing as the man of the year – Mr. Obi Cubana, was detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for over two days for his alleged involvement in tax evasion and other related infractions.
What ninety five percent of these cases have in common aside the popularity of the parties involved, is their inchoate status currently and this itself has been the bane of the justice system for as long as anybody can remember.
It is said that justice can be delayed but never denied. While this may hold true in saner climes, in these parts however, justice can be denied by being delayed. Lady Justicia is a proper lady, one that has to take her time, so understandably justice will always keep us waiting.
Worthy of note also is the worrisome fact that our already frail and over burdened justice system is continuously being inundated with egotistical, manipulative, mindless and frivolous suits from people with no real intention of seeing them through but to massage a certain public perception that they may or may not possess.
Very few of our celebrities have been privileged to witness firsthand the stern hand of the law as a direct consequence for any of their run ins or infractions and that in itself does not say a lot for the rule of law.
As we usher in the last month of what has been a very interesting year, we can not say authoritatively what legal drama December will bring but whatever it maybe if any, if it cannot educate us, we hope in the very least, it entertains us.