A legal fireworks is brewing in Lagos after a non-governmental organisation demanded N100 million from a man over statements he allegedly made about his former partner on a popular podcast.
Aunt Landa’s Bethel Foundation, acting for Ms. Mayowa Lambe, issued a cease-and-desist letter to Mr. Robert Ekpenyong Ekpo on April 22, 2026.
The foundation demanded an immediate public retraction, an apology, and N100 million in damages for alleged malicious defamation.
But Ekpo is not backing down.
Through his lawyer, M.M. Obong, Esq., of Tap Legal Services, he rejected the demands, calling them “excessive, unfounded, and premature.”
How trouble started
The dispute stems from statements Ekpo allegedly made during an appearance on the Honest Bunch podcast, a platform famous for no-holds-barred conversations on relationships.
According to the foundation’s letter, Ekpo embarked on a “deliberate and sustained campaign of falsehood.”
He allegedly made claims about infidelity, financial dependency, moral character, and the existence of a marital relationship with Lambe.
The foundation said Lambe had since been subjected to “widespread online trolling and coordinated defamatory commentary” as a result.
Ekpo fights back
But in a sharply worded reply dated April 23, 2026, Ekpo’s lawyer said his client “categorically denies the allegations.”
He said Ekpo “takes strong exception” to being labelled false, malicious, or defamatory.
According to the reply, any statements Ekpo made were “based on his personal experiences, understanding of events, and matters he reasonably believes to be true.”
The lawyer added that Ekpo “at no time acted with malice or with the intent to injure your client’s reputation.”
Ultimatum and counter-threa
The foundation gave Ekpo three days to comply with its demands, warning that failure would trigger “immediate legal proceedings” including claims for aggravated damages and criminal complaints.
But Ekpo’s lawyer described the ultimatum as “unreasonable and inconsistent with established legal practice.”
He said his client “will not accede to your demands as presently constituted” and is “prepared to join issues with your client before a court of competent jurisdiction.”
The lawyer also indicated that Ekpo would file counterclaims for “harassment, intimidation, and reputational harm” if pushed to court.
What happens next?
As of press time, it was unclear whether the three-day ultimatum had expired or if any lawsuit had been filed.
Neither Lambe nor Ekpo could be reached for comment.
N100m damages: Will it fly?
Legal experts say defamation claimants can demand any figure, but courts ultimately decide what is reasonable.
For a claim to succeed, the claimant must prove the statement was false, published to a third party, and caused reputational harm.
Truth is a complete defence.
