NNSM Founder Joan Okorodudu Seeks ₦100Million in Facebook Defamation Lawsuit Against Model

It is not everyday celebrities in Nigeria sue for defamation. In fact, it is a rare occurence, espeically in Nigeria’s relatively infant fashion industry. Nevertheless, Joan Okorodudu owner of Nigeria’s Next Supermodel (NNSM) bucks the trend with a defamation lawsuit seeking  ₦100Million for alleged defamation of her character/ reputation by former NNSM model Marcia Okhai Ahwuose, among many defendants.
Key Facts
On December 1st, 2009 Okhai Marcia published on Facebook a rather scathing note about Joan Okorodudu. Okhai tagged several media houses and individuals. In addition, she also published the same comments on several sites including here on LadybrilleNigeria. Facebook reaches over 350million users per month. On December 19th, 2009 Okorodudu responded through Vanguard Nigeria with a headline that read, “My sin is that I showed compassion to models — Joan Okorodudu.” That story on Vanguard was syndicated extensively. Nevertheless, it appears that was not enough to repair Ms. Okorodudu’s reputation. She filed the subsquent lawsuit shortly after.

Defamation Claim by Okorodudu
Okorodudu essentially alleges that statements written and published on Facebook defamed and caused injury to her reputation. In a nutshell, defamation is about causing injury to one’s reputation where allegations made are false. If defamation is written, then you have Libel. If it is oral defamation, then you have Slander.

PARTIES
Plaintiffs
Joan Elumelu Okorodudu (individual) and doing business as International Business Consortium Limited and Isis Models.

Defendant
Marcia Okhai Ahwuose

Co-Defendants
Azuka Ogujuiba, Journalist, Leaders and Company publishers of Thisday Newspapers
Elizabeth Isior Elohor, Elite Models
Ifeoma Yolanda Jones (US based model)
Global Excellence Communication, publishers of Global Excellence Magazine
Dockland Communications (News of the People)
Romando Nigeria Limited (Celebrities Magazine)

What happens next?

Click here to read full story by reporter Niyi Tabiti.

~by Uduak Oduok

Ladybrille Magazine

Founded in 2007, Ladybrille® Magazine is a California based pioneer digital publication demystifying the image of Africans in the west through contemporary African fashion and celebrating the brilliant woman in business and leadership, with an emphasis on the African woman in the diaspora. Our coverage includes stories on capital, access to markets, expertise, hiring and retention, sales, marketing, and promotions.