Shatta Wale, a dancehall artist, has been sued by his former manager, Lawrence Nana Asiamah Hanson, also known as Bullgod.
Bullgod has filed a defamation suit against Shatta Wale after the musician threatened to expose his claimed secret surrounding the death of late artiste manager Fennec Okyere.
In a social media post on Wednesday, November 2, the ‘My Level’ hitmaker wrote, “Bull Dog, since you are bringing out secrets, you will tell Ghanaians what happen to Fenicks (sic) Murder!! And I’m not joking this time!!”
“I am ready to tell the court about what you told me about you and your men and how you planned that foolish act, get ready. This Akufo-Addo won’t give you a murderer (sic) chance to be on our streets!!! Watch how this ends!!! You can’t fight time!!!”
Bullgod’s lawyers stated in court records filed before an Accra High Court that these comments seek to imply that he planned, accomplished, or had a hand in Mr Okyere’s death.
They went on to say that Shatta Wale’s assertions suggested “that the Plaintiff is a criminal gangster and a risk to society and should be in jail (rather than walking freely in the streets).”
Also, “that his (the Defendant’s) claims in the publication are factual, truthful, and must be taken seriously by the public and law enforcement authorities.”
According to them, these statements prompted the police to re-investigate Mr Okyere’s death.
Bulldog’s team, however, insists that these comments are false, malicious, and solely serve to malign the artiste management.
Not only that, but the lawyers identified other statements made by Shatta Wale that they believe are defamatory as well.
They include charges that Bulldog said former President Mahama directed him to find gunmen and ladies for a fictitious employment.
The lawyers noted that these statements implies that “the Plaintiff is a person who engages in illicit gun violence, contract killing and other related crimes,” and also “that the Plaintiff is in the trade of procuring, controlling, and arranging prostitutes in return for money and other material gains.”
As a result, Bulldog is asking the court to declare that these statements, as well as others mentioned in the claim, are defamatory and malicious.
He also wants the court to order Shatta Wale to retract his accusations and apologize to him.
Bulldog is demanding that the ‘Ayoo’ hitmaker apologise “on all his social media pages or accounts, make a publication on seven consecutive days” adding that “such retraction and apology to be vetted and approved by the Plaintiff’s lawyers.”
He is also requesting a permanent injunction to prevent Shatta Wale from releasing any defamatory remarks about him.
Among other things, Bulldog is seeking “general damages for defamation, special damages for defamation, punitive damages for malicious publication of falsehood against the plaintiff, cost, and any other orders or remedies that the Court may deem fit.”
Background
This comes nearly a week after Shatta Wale threatened to divulge a secret Bulldog informed him about the artiste manager’s death.
The threat was made in response to the release of the list of artists included on the tracks for Shatta Wale’s upcoming album, ‘Gift of God’ (GOG) by Bulldog.
The ‘Ayoo’ hitmaker added that he is willing to tell any court what Bulldog told him regarding Fennec Okyere’s murder.
This piqued the interest of Kwaw Kese, whose career Fennec Okyere handled before his death in 2014.
He posted a screenshot of Shatta Wale’s post and urged the police to bring justice to his former manager.
Read Also: Nigerian TikTokers sentenced to whipping for mocking official
The police later issued a statement stating that they were in contact with Shatta Wale and wanted to obtain vital information to assist in the identification of the perpetrator.
Fennec Okyere’s death
Fennec Okyere, the manager of 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.
Bulldog, born Lawrence Nana Asiama Hanson, was apprehended by the Police Criminal Investigative Department (CID) after his death.
He was apprehended at Kokomlemle, an Accra suburb, as a suspect in the death of Fennec Okyere.
This was because Bulldog who had regular beefs with Fennec Okyere, had supposedly threatened him in an interview on radio.
Bulldog was charged with conspiracy to commit murder on the Police charge sheet, but his plea was not taken.
Bullhaus Entertainment CEO was released from prison in 2017 after then-Attorney-General Gloria Akuffo stated that the state was no longer interested in prosecuting Bulldog for the alleged murder of Fennec Okyere.
This was stated in the A-G’s case docket advice. Kwaw Kese expressed his dissatisfaction with the development.
“Even the prosecutors were not going to court. I believe our security system is very weak,” a very disappointed Kwaw Kese told Lexis Bill in an interview on Behind the Fame on Drive Time on Joy FM in 2018.
However, Bulldog has constantly claimed that he is innocent and had no involvement in Fennec Okyere’s death.
According to him, the digs they targeted at one another were intended to promote their artists while simultaneously keeping them relevant as managers.
Bulldog maintained his innocence in a 2022 interview with Hitz FM, saying that despite their arguments, he never threatened Fennec Okyere.
Meanwhile, Shatta Wale is due to react to the suit within eight days of being served.
SOURCE: myjoyonline
