Accuses Singer of Defamation, Seeks ₦20 Million in Damages The Administrator of the Estate of the late Mrs. Esther Ibeto has dragged Jigida...
Accuses Singer of Defamation, Seeks ₦20 Million in Damages
The Administrator of the Estate of the late Mrs. Esther Ibeto has dragged Jigida singer, Uche Ibeto, before the High Court of Justice, Lagos State, over alleged unlawful possession of the deceased’s property.
Uche Ibeto is best known for her hit Jigida Dance album, which gained popularity in the 1980s.
Led by the Administrator of the Estate, Mrs. Laura Chinyelu Okoh, the suit, filed through her counsel, Barrister E. Omoijiade, on October 2, 2025, accuses her sister of unlawfully taking possession of cash, valuables, property title documents, and rental income belonging to the Estate after their mother’s death.
Mrs. Okoh also accused Uche of sponsoring defamatory publications in the media against her and other members of the family.
Specifically, she cited a Sahara Reporters publication dated September 9, 2025, in which Uche allegedly accused her of conniving with a judicial officer to eject her from her residence at 36 Ibezim Obiojulu Street, Surulere, Lagos.
The Estate Administrator, therefore, prayed the court to order Uche, who is the sole defendant in the matter, to return all assets belonging to the Estate, provide a full account of the Estate’s finances, and publish a retraction and apology for the alleged defamatory statements.
The plaintiff also asked the court to order monetary compensation of ₦10,000,000 for defamation and another ₦10,000,000 for the cost of the legal action.
In addition, she prayed the court to compel the defendant to account for £10,000 (Ten Thousand Pounds) allegedly withdrawn from the deceased’s Barclays Bank account, and to grant a perpetual injunction restraining the defendant from interfering with the Estate or publishing further defamatory statements.
In her statement of claim, Mrs. Okoh averred that the defendant, without lawful authority from the administrators, rented out several portions of the deceased’s property, including the boys’ quarters, garages, and flats, and converted rental income exceeding ₦25,000,000 (Twenty-Five Million Naira) to her personal use.
The claimant further stated that despite repeated demands, the defendant has “persistently refused, neglected, and failed to account for or return the monies, valuables, and documents unlawfully removed from the deceased and the Estate.”
“These assets, which rightfully belong to the Estate of the late Mrs. Esther Ibeto, remain in the defendant’s possession without lawful justification or explanation,” Mrs. Okoh said, adding that she would rely on a formal letter dated August 20, 2025, demanding the immediate return of the Estate’s assets still held by the defendant.
She explained that due to the defendant’s persistent refusal and alleged dissipation of Estate assets, it became necessary to sell the family house to protect and preserve the interests of all beneficiaries.
“Considering these circumstances, and to safeguard the Estate, the Claimant made the decision to sell the one-storey building at No. 36 Ibezim Obiojulu Street, Surulere, Lagos, with the intention of distributing the proceeds among the beneficiaries to ensure everyone received their rightful entitlement,” she stated.
According to the claimant, rather than rendering a proper account, the defendant resorted to threats, harassment, and intimidation, allegedly colluding with certain police officers to arrest Estate staff.
“The Defendant also sponsored malicious and defamatory publications in which she falsely represented herself as the owner of the Estate property, disparaged the Claimant in her capacity as Administrator, and misled the public about the true ownership of the Estate’s assets,” Mrs. Okoh added.
She maintained that the defamatory publications have “lowered the Claimant in the estimation of right-thinking members of society, brought the administration of the Estate into disrepute, and injured its reputation.”
The claimant, therefore, prayed the court to restrain the defendant from publishing further defamatory statements and to award ₦20 million in damages against her.
As of the time of filing this report, counsel to the claimant confirmed that a court bailiff had visited the defendant’s residence at 21/25 Allen Avenue, Ikeja, but she allegedly refused to accept service of the court papers.
No date has yet been fixed for the hearing of the case.
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