An application for an out-of-court settlement in a defamation suit filed by Lawrence Asiamah Hanson, popularly known as Bulldog, against Charles Nii Armah Mensah, popularly known as Shatta Wale, has been granted.
Shatta Wale, a dancehall musician, was sued by artist manager Bulldog for allegedly defaming him.
Bulldog, the plaintiff, is seeking damages for the alleged defamation as well as for the defendant's alleged deliberate publication of false information about him.
The series of publications that the defendant has made and continues to make about the plaintiff are motivated by obvious malice," reads the statement of claim filed by Bulldog's lawyer, Justice Srem-Sai.
The plaintiff's lawyers, led by Dr Justice Srem-Sai, informed the court on Tuesday 7 March 2023 that the parties had entered into settlement negotiations and needed a one month adjournment.
As a result, he said, they would not be able to submit written arguments in accordance with the Court's instructions.
Dr Srem-Sai told the court: "We would like to ask for a further adjournment to seek a settlement and, depending on the outcome, we may formally apply for an extension of time to file our witness statements.
After hearing from the parties, Justice Joseph Adu Agyemang Owusu, who is in charge of the General Jurisdiction 13 of the Accra High Court, urged them to resolve the dispute out of court.
Bulldog, Shatta Wale and Murtala Inusah were all present, and the EIB Network's legal correspondent observed them having a cordial discussion.
The case will now be heard on 18 April 2023.
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.
A declaration of the Court that the series of publications made by the Defendant in the Statement of Claim are malicious.
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.
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.
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
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 to open investigations into the defendant’s publications.
Fennec Okyere, who was the manager of controversial musician, Kwaw Kese, was murdered at his Manet Gardens residence on the Spintex Road, Accra on Thursday, March 13, 2014 by unknown assailants. He died at age 31.
Lawrence Nana Asiama Hanson, was picked up by the Police Criminal Investigative Department (CID) as a suspect in the death of Fennec Okyere.
This was because Bullgod (then known as Bulldog) who had regular beefs with Fennec Okyere, had supposedly threatened him in an interview.
In 2017, the courts, on the advice of the Attorney-General that there was no evidence against the accused, discharged Bulldog.
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