Connect with us

Entertainment

Shatta Wale and Bulldog reach agreement in principle on settlement terms in defamation case

Published

on

Shatta Wale and Bulldog reach agreement in principle on settlement terms in defamation case

Shatta Wale, a popular dancehall singer, and his former manager, Lawrence Asiamah Hanson, aka Bulldog, have struck an agreement in principle to resolve the defamation claim out of court.

On April 18, 2023, Shatta Wale’s lawyers asked for a month for further negotiations after Bulldog’s lawyers stated the parties had failed to reach a deal.

After a month, Shatta Wale’s lawyers claimed in court that the parties had reached an agreement in principle on settlement terms.

As a result, he asked the court for a month’s adjournment to allow the parties to write the conditions of settlement, which he then submitted to the court for adoption as a consent judgement.

The matter was deferred by the High Court in Accra, presided over by Justice Joseph Adu Agyemang Owusu, after counsel for Bulldog validated information presented to the court that the parties had achieved settlement terms in principle.

Murtala Inusah, EIB Network’s Legal Affairs Correspondent, has learned that one of the stipulations of the settlement includes a public apology to Bulldog.

Background

On March 7, the dancehall performer asked the court, through his lawyer, for an out-of-court settlement, which was granted.

However, when the parties appeared in court on Tuesday, April 18, they were unable to reach an agreement.

Dr Justice Srem Sai, counsel for the Plaintiff (Bulldog), stated that discussions had failed and that the parties were returning to court for further instructions.

However, Shatta Wale’s counsel, Lawyer Selasie Atuwo, stated that both parties are willing to settle the lawsuit, but the difficulty is the sum.

As a result, he requested an adjournment so that the parties could try to resolve the situation.

“The will to settle the case is there for both sides but the issue now is about the quantum of amount. If we may be given a date to try to settle,” lawyer Selasie Atuwo told the court

While adjourning the matter to May 16, the court, presided over by Justice Joseph Adu Agyemang Owusu, advised them to try to settle the case before the next court meeting.

Shatta Wale was sued in court for defamation by Lawrence Asiamah Hanson, popularly known as Bulldog, and the plaintiff is seeking damages for the alleged defamation as well as the defendant’s intentional dissemination of a lie against him.

“The series of publications that Defendant has made and continues to make about the Plaintiff are actuated by plain malice,” the writ filed by Bulldog’s Lawyer, Justice Srem-Sai said.

Reliefs

The plaintiff is seeking the following reliefs:

  1. A declaration of the Court that the series of publications made by the Defendant as particularised in the Statement of Claim are defamatory to the Plaintiff.
  1. A declaration of the Court that the series of publications made by the Defendant in the Statement of Claim are malicious.
  2. An order of the Court directed at the Defendant to on all his social media pages or accounts, make a publication on seven (7) consecutive days of an unqualified retraction of and unreserved apology for the defamatory words that the Defendant has published about the Plaintiff, such retraction and apology to be vetted and approved by the Plaintiff’s lawyers.
  3. An order of the Court for perpetual injunction restraining the Defendant, his agents, workmen, assigns and servants from publishing or further publishing any defamatory words against the Plaintiff.
  4. General damages for defamation.
  5. Special damages for defamation.
  6. Punitive damages for malicious publication of falsehood against the Plaintiff.
  7. Cost, and
  8. Any other orders or remedies that the Court may deem fit

Subject matter

On November 02, 2022, Shatta Wale was said to have made a publication on his Facebook page implicating his former manager, Bulldog in the murder of Fennec Okyere among others.

Upon this the Ghana Police Service opened investigations into the defendant’s publications.

Fennec Okyere, the manager of the controversial musician Kwaw Kese, was murdered by unknown gunmen on Thursday, March 13, 2014, at his Manet Gardens apartment on the Spintex Road in Accra. He died at the age of 31.

The Police Criminal Investigative Department (CID) named Lawrence Nana Asiama Hanson as a suspect in the death of Fennec Okyere.

This was due to Bullgod (then known as Bulldog), who had a history of feuding with Fennec Okyere, allegedly threatening him in an interview.

Bulldog was discharged by the courts in 2017 after the Attorney-General advised that there was no evidence against the accused.

Entertainment

Music royalties are at stake as GHAMRO’s operational licence is revoked

Published

on

By

Music royalties are at stake as GHAMRO's operational licence is revoked

Artists in Ghana who are due money for the usage of their works may have to wait.

This is because the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO), which is in charge of distributing royalties, has had its licence revoked.

It follows demands for the office’s closure by renowned musician Akosua Agyapong due to legal issues that have stopped the outfit from renewing its licence for some time.

On Thursday, June 1, 2023, the news was revealed at a press conference in Accra.

Rex Omar, Chairman of GHAMRO’s interim management committee, addressed the gathering and said that the royalty collection agency would be unable to release any collections.

As a result, the agency will be unable to carry out its collection mandate until the licence is renewed.

Rex indicated that GHAMRO has met all of the renewal requirements outlined in Section 24 of the Copyright Legislative Instrument.

“In 2010, GHAMRO submitted all the requisite documentation for the renewal of its license in June, 2022. This is against a campaign from notable persons like Madam Akosua Adjepong that the organization certificate has not been renewed and that Users should stop payments for the use of protected music which is regulated under law,” he stated.

Regardless, the Copyright Office has demanded that the organisation agree to postpone its legal cases, re-adopt Prof. Sutherland’s Report, and readmit the disbanded Election Committee to organise new elections in a letter dated May 17, 2023.

Rex Omar added that “it is unfortunate that after the Attorney General’s Office Roadmap has almost been completed with the exception of the apped case yet to be cleared, GHAMRO is being asked to go back to start the recommendation of the Efua Sutherland Committee.”

Rex told GHAMRO members on the sidelines of the news conference that the leadership has filed a petition to the Attorney General to express their discontent with the instruction.

He further stated that, while the organisation is prohibited from transferring royalties, it can still collect royalties and wait until its licence is renewed before delivering them to the proper owners.

Meanwhile, Rex Omar has taken strong exception to the allegation by Mrs Agyapong describing it as a “smear campaign to malign the management and Directors of the organization with misleading information to further their personal agenda.”

Akosua Agyapong has accused GHAMRO of misconduct, including failure to follow numerous suggestions incorporated in the organization’s 2021 report.

One of them, she told Graphic Showbiz, is a mandate for GHAMRO to utilise 10% of revenues for the welfare of rights holders.

Mrs. Agyapong, however, claims that this is not being done.

“From the 2021 report, those who are managing the fund are paid GHC72,000 annually; yet, members in dire need don’t get assistance,” she said.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

I’ve changed my life because I’m about to give birth – Shugatiti

Published

on

By

I've changed my life because I'm about to give birth - Shugatiti

Shugatiti claims in a new interview that she has forged a new path to redemption, as opposed to the sultry, sexy, sassy demeanour that has reflected her brand since she became a mainstream sensation.

She explained in a YouTube interview with ZionFelix that as she grew older and became more mindful of her own personal development, she made a conscious decision to give up several behaviours and activities that were no longer in keeping with her growing self.

“I have stopped certain things because I am growing and getting older,” Shugatiti explained. Now I attend church, and I’m about to give birth, so I’m changing.” She insisted that her decision was entirely her own and that she has taken the initiative to frequently attend church.

She disclosed that, although being reared in the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) by her stepmother, she was born into the Assemblies of God church. As a result, she has opted to attend the ICGC’s Open Heavens branch in her town.

“Three weeks ago, I went (to church), two weeks ago, and last week.” I just decided to go because I need a new family…I was born into assemblies, but my stepmother took me to ICGC, so I sat down and said, “I won’t go to the assemblies, but I’d rather go to ICGC,” and I had an Open Heavens branch in my region, so I went…When I initially went there, someone noticed me and noticed the necklace, and he asked, “Are you the one?” I responded absolutely.

“I haven’t skipped a beat since I started… Nobody preached to me, nobody convinced me because where I come from, we are not unified like that, so I needed a new family that you can go to when you encounter any issues aside from worshipping God,” he continued.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

How Shatta Wale’s timely intervention spared Fella Makafui from committing suicide over a’sex tape’

Published

on

By

How Shatta Wale's timely intervention spared Fella Makafui from committing suicide over a'sex tape'

Fella Makafui, an actress and entrepreneur, owes her life to Dancehall King Shatta Wale, whose timely intervention prevented her from committing suicide.

Fella Makafui recounted being depressed when she learned that her alleged sex tape had gone viral on social media.

Despite the fact that the identity of the X-rated model was kept hidden, Fella claimed it was linked to her since she had a similar physique to the model.

“There was this day I was having a meeting with my manager and he just called me and was like Precious I need to tell you something. He was like I know you can’t do something like this but I want you to be honest with me and I was like okay what up? And he said oh your tape and I am like what, my sex tape, Where? never,” she recounted in an interview on 3FM.

She claimed that the controversy drove her to the edge of suicide, but for a phone call from Shatta Wale, who calmed her down and explained the issue.

“Shatta saved my life. He called me and said ‘Mummy calm down’ and sent me the link and I realised it was a couple from Twitter. She had a tattoo on her back but I don’t. I knew it wasn’t me because I had not done something like that,” she said.

Fella Makafui stated that if the crucial phone call had not arrived in time, she would have taken her life that night.

Based on her experiences, she claims she has developed a thick skin and will no longer be swayed by the opinions of judgmental Ghanaians.

It’s also the reason she and her husband, Medikal, maintain such a close relationship with the Dancehall king.

Continue Reading

Trending

error: Content is protected !!