Afrobeat sensation Davido has taken legal action against Mediamax Network Limited following the publication of a defamatory story falsely alleging his arrest at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Through his legal representatives, the ‘Unavailable’ crooner has issued a list of demands to the media outlet to seek redress for the damage inflicted on his reputation.
The erroneous story, initially circulated as an April Fool’s Day prank, wrongly claimed that Davido had been apprehended with narcotics aboard his private jet while at the airport, purportedly attempting to depart Kenya. Despite subsequent clarifications by the media house, Davido maintains that the false accusations have tarnished his hard-earned reputation, cultivated through years of dedication and investment in his craft.
In a sternly-worded demand letter from Davido’s legal team, they underscore the adverse impact of the article on the singer’s international standing and business interests across various jurisdictions. The letter accuses Mediamax Limited of conducting a deliberate smear campaign aimed at besmirching Davido’s character and integrity.
The letter states: “Your statements are false and detrimentally affect our client’s professional reputation by falsely asserting and disseminating to third parties that, among other things, our client is involved in narcotics-related activities that are criminal in nature.”
Such unfounded allegations not only severely damage Davido’s reputation but also inflict irreparable harm on his personal and professional life. The egregious nature of the article’s contents cannot be overstated.
“It is our client’s contention that the contents of the said article are crafted and intended to propagate false, harmful, and defamatory rumors about him.”
Consequently, the media house has been presented with five demands, including the retraction of the defamatory article, an unconditional apology, and the cessation of any further defamatory statements.
Here are the five demands:
1. Remove from all of your pages and platforms the defamatory and disparaging remarks regarding our client made by you and your visitors.
2. Cease and desist from publishing defamatory statements about our client, whether the statements are made by you or third parties.
3. Offer an unconditional apology to our client as stated in our instructing client letter herewith.
4. Admit liability for defaming our client and thereafter we shall quantify damages
5. Compensate our client for his Attorney Fees and costs.
The media outlet has been given a 48-hour ultimatum to comply with the demands, failing which Davido will explore all available legal avenues to seek justice.
