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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Roby Ekpo rejects ₦100m demand, vows to fight Mayowa Lambe in court

From The Punch · (8h ago) English Critical tone

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Media personality Robert Ekpo rejected his estranged wife Mayowa Lambe's demand for ₦100 million in damages, calling it excessive and unfounded.
  • Ekpo's lawyers stated his statements were based on personal experiences and denied any malice or intent to defame.
  • The response warned of a potential counter-suit for harassment and intimidation if Lambe proceeds with legal action, and noted an admission in her notice that could be used in a petition to US authorities.

The public spat between estranged couple Robert Ekpo and Mayowa Lambe has escalated into a legal battle, with Ekpo firmly rejecting Lambe's demand for ₦100 million in damages. As reported by The Punch, Ekpo, through his legal team, has characterized the demand as "excessive, unfounded and premature." This response, posted on Ekpo's Instagram, directly counters the cease-and-desist notice issued by Lambe's lawyers, setting the stage for a potential courtroom showdown.

Your demands, particularly the request for ₦100,000,000.00 in damages, are viewed as excessive, unfounded, and premature.

— Roby Ekpo's lawyersResponding to Mayowa Lambe's demand for N100 million in damages.

From our perspective in Nigeria, celebrity disputes often play out publicly, and this case is no different. Ekpo's defense hinges on the assertion that his statements, made on "The Honest Bunch" podcast, were rooted in his "personal experiences" and matters he reasonably believed to be true. His legal team emphasizes that these issues stem from a "complex interpersonal relationship" and that Lambe's notice selectively presents facts. This framing attempts to shift the narrative from defamation to a dispute arising from personal history, a common tactic in such cases.

Any statements made by him, whether privately or on public platforms, were based on his personal experiences, understanding of events, and matters he reasonably believes to be true. At no time did he act with malice or with the intent to injure your client’s reputation.

— Roby Ekpo's lawyersDenying allegations of defamation and stating the basis of Ekpo's statements.

The response carries a significant warning: Ekpo reserves the right to file counterclaims for "harassment, intimidation, and reputational harm" if Lambe pursues legal action. Furthermore, the mention of an "admission of some of our client’s claims" within Lambe's notice, which Ekpo intends to use in a petition to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, adds a layer of international legal complexity. This suggests that the fallout from their personal relationship may extend beyond Nigerian courts, making this a case to watch closely.

The issues referenced arise from a complex interpersonal relationship, the facts of which cannot be selectively presented to construct a misleading narrative against our client.

— Roby Ekpo's lawyersCharacterizing the dispute as arising from personal relationship complexities.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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