By Prosper Mene
In a significant ruling on July 13, 2025, Justice Olabisi Akinlade of the Lagos High Court in Osborne, Ikoyi, dismissed a N1 billion defamation lawsuit filed by Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo against her colleague, Lizzy Anjorin. The high-profile case, which has fueled months of public drama, was struck out due to procedural irregularities, starting a turning point in the ongoing feud between the two actresses.
The lawsuit, initiated by Ojo in late 2023, started from a series of public disputes that escalated when Anjorin allegedly made defamatory statements about Ojo on social media. Ojo accused Anjorin of spreading false claims, including linking her to the death of singer Mohbad and targeting her family with harassment and cyberbullying. The suit demanded N1 billion in damages and a public apology from Anjorin.
However, the court dismissed the case after Anjorin’s legal team, led by counsel Ademola, revealed that the claimant’s Writ of Summons was not signed by Ojo’s counsel, rendering it procedurally defective. According to court records, this issue was identified during a review of the case file, with a Certified True Copy of the originating processes confirming the error as of April 2, 2024.
Anjorin celebrated the dismissal on Instagram, declaring, “Iyabo Ojo’s N1 billion lawsuit against Lizzy Anjorin is dismissed, the court ordered Iyabo Ojo to pay Lizzy Anjorin a certain amount.” However, Ojo refuted claims of a formal judgment, clarifying in a now-deleted Instagram video that the matter was part of an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process, not a full trial. She stated, “The judge threw the case out because she wanted peace… We have not started any formal court case.”The feud, intensified recently following a fire that destroyed Ojo’s office in Lekki, Lagos. Ojo has publicly accused Anjorin of orchestrating threats against her and her family, including taking their names to a herbalist, claims Anjorin has not directly addressed. In a video, Ojo warned, “If anything happens to me, my daughter Priscilla Ajoke, or Festus Olajuwon Ojo, you, Lizzy Anjorin, should be held responsible.”The dismissal has caused widespread reactions online, with fans and observers divided over the actresses’ ongoing conflict.
While Anjorin’s supporters view the ruling as a victory, Ojo’s camp insists the legal battle is far from over, citing unresolved tensions and the ADR’s failure to achieve peace.
Neither actress has indicated plans to de-escalate the issue, leaving room for further developments in this high-stakes disagreement.
