Maje Ayida, the estranged husband of media personality, Toke Makinwa has hired the law firms of Carter-Ruck, a leading defamation law firm in the UK t
Maje Ayida, the estranged husband of media personality, Toke Makinwa has hired the law firms of Carter-Ruck, a leading defamation law firm in the UK to top figures like Simon Cowell, Elton John and Chelsea FC, as well as Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) of Pinheiro LP, to see to the stoppage of sales of Toke’s Memoir, ‘On Becoming’ which she released in November last year and for which she is currently on a book tour and signings in Ghana. Maje’s lawyers sent Toke a letter of demand to that effect while describing the book as nothing but ‘exaggerated fabrication,’ adding that it contains ‘defamatory words’.
Toke had written about her relationship with Maje, accusing him of cheating while they were dating and even after they got married. She also accused him of infecting her with Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). Things fell apart between Toke and Maje in 2015 after the former discovered that the latter impregnated a lady while they were married.
According to the letter of demand, Toke’s estranged husband was said to have requested legal separation from her within six months of their marriage in January 2014 when it became clear that the marriage was breaking down to which Toke was alleged to have signed a legal separation agreement in July 2014, a fact the book failed to record.
“The book misleadingly describes the circumstances at the time,” the letter read.
Pinheiro LP, the Nigerian law firm, said it was untrue that Maje had given her STI in the past or at any stage in their relationship. The law firm also noted that it was highly misleading for the book to allege that Maje did not financially contribute adequately to the marriage.
“The publicity sought by you has been relentless, and limitless,” said Adebowale Kamoru in the letter of demand, on behalf of Pinheiro LP.
The law firm also further noted that the publication has brought public ridicule on Maje, noting that his reputation has been assaulted, injured and damaged.
“His professional integrity as one of the leading health and wellness practitioners in Nigeria, and his professional credibility built over the years through dedicated hard work have been besmirched”, the letter said.
According to the law firm, Toke’s representation of Ayida in the book was not a true reflection of who he is, his character and his background.
Maje Ayida, through his lawyers, is therefore among other things, asking Toke to retrieve the already-sold books and stop all forms of distribution. The letter mandates her to withdraw from circulation all copies of the book and take immediate steps to call in all copies of the book already distributed and deliver up same at the place to be agreed upon by our client for destruction. It further said a failure by the On Air Personality to retract the published words and tender a full page unreserved apology to Maje Ayida in three national dailies will result in the commencement of legal action.
A copy of the letter of demand
Makinwa was also advised to take immediate steps to stop the distribution of the books on Amazon, iTunes and all forms of promotion on her social media accounts. She was given seven days upon receipt of the letter to comply with the demands or they’d be forced to seek legal redress. The letter was actually delivered to Toke on Monday, December 23, 2016. It can’t however be immediately confirmed whether she received the letter of demand.
The Cable
