Wema Bank was been ordered by a Federal High Court in Lagos to pay US-based Nigerian model, Nneoma Anosike, N10million as damages for the infringement
Wema Bank was been ordered by a Federal High Court in Lagos to pay US-based Nigerian model, Nneoma Anosike, N10million as damages for the infringement of her intellectual property. The bank was found guilty of breaching the model’s privacy by using her photograph in a campaign material without her consent. Apart from awarding financial damages, the court gave an order of injunction restraining the bank from further passing off or enabling others to pass off Nneoma’s professional services.
Wema Bank had on April 11, 2016, used her photo for a post on their Instagram account without authorisation from her management company, Ford Models Inc. According to the statement of claims attached to the suit, she claimed that she is a reputable international model who had won many laurels within and outside the country. She said she was on the verge of renewing her contract with Ford Models Inc., which took her to the U.S., until they summoned her to a meeting and presented her with the photo posted on the bank’s page. Anosike said the bank mutilated and edited her professional photo and used it on their page and that has jeopardized her contract renewal.
Wema Bank had defended their actions saying that they sourced the photo from social media and used it for its weekly motivational and educational series under its Corporate Social Responsibility programme and not for advertisement. The bank also said it was not aware of any modelling contract between Anosike and Ford Models Inc.
Subsequently, Nneoma Anosike who was a one time winner of Elite Model Look 2013, dragged the bank to court seeking an order directing the defendant to pay N75 million for allegedly passing off her services. The 22 year old also sought another N20 million for the breach of her privacy by advertising her private correspondence. Anosike who instituted the legal action at the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court via her father and lawyer, Frank Anosike, also wanted the defendant to issue an apology in two national dailies in Nigeria and in the U.S. and also pay N2 million as cost of filing the suit.
Nneoma Anosike cane on to the modeling scene and like a whirlwind, won the Elite Model Look Nigeria contest in 2013 at the age of 18. She went on to become a brand ambassador of Pepsi Cola Nigeria in 2014 and took part in the Get Naked campaign for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) the same year. She entered into a three-year management contract with Ford Model Incorporated, New York in 2014 for which she travelled to the United States of America to continue her career. She represented one of the dark shades of Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty’s foundation in a 2017 campaign and took part in the casting call to be a part of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2018 rookie class. She is presently signed to ONE Management modelling agency.
