Shatta Wale Absent...Court Grants Interlocutory Injunction Against Him

An Accra Fast Track High Court on Monday October 20, 2014 sat to hear the case involving owner of event Management Company, Charterhouse and its CEO Mr. Iyiola Ayoade and self-acclaimed Dancehall King, Shatta Wale real name Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jnr. Peacefmonline.com’s correspondent reports that counsel for both parties were present but the “Enter the net” hit maker was nowhere to be found in court. According to the report, Shatta Wale was represented in court by his father Mr. Mensah and his Manager Lawrence Nana Asiamah Hanson aka Bulldog. On 2nd October 2014, Charterhouse sued Shatta Wale for defamation seeking damages of GH¢10million. This was after the self-acclaimed Dancehall King, in his usual brazen approach, accused the events company and its CEO, Iyiola Ayoade, of being corrupt and "foolish" in the videos, warning them to stop denying musicians from other regions of Ghana the needed recognition. The two plaintiffs, Charterhouse and its CEO want the court to declare that the musician defamed them in the series of videos. They are asking for “an unqualified apology and retraction of each of the four separate videos with the approval by the plaintiffs prior to the recording and uploading” to his Facebook page and to remain on his page for one month within a week of the judgment. Again the plaintiffs want the court to compel Shatta Wale to send the four videos in which he renders apologies to the plaintiffs to “all media houses and online publications that have aired the defamatory videos complained of and ensure that same and/or published at his own expense” within a week of the judgment. The plaintiffs are also seeking for an “order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, his agents, manager(s), privies and assigns or any person through him and howsoever described from making and/or repeating the defamatory statements or similar statements in the nature of the ones complained in the video recordings.” When the court sat on the case on Monday, it lasted barely 45 minutes with the two plaintiffs winning an interlocutory injunction against Shatta Wale. This means Shatta Wale and all his associates dare not release anything against Charterhouse or anybody affiliated with Charterhouse be it in writing in social media, in music, Radio, TV, video or through any other form of communication or publication. In the main case of defamation, Shatta Wale’s lawyer pleaded with the court extensively for an out of court settlement and asked for one month within which they believe by then the case might have been settled amicably between the two parties, but Lawyer for Charterhouse and Mr. Ayoade, Lawyer Egbert Faibelle said one month was too long for a possible out of court settlement so the court agreed to a two-week time-table after which if both parties are not able to settle the case out of court, the case would be recalled. The case has therefore been adjourned to Monday November 3, 2014. Peacefmonline.com is also reliably informed that even before Monday’s court hearing, counsel for Shatta Wale had on the quiet, written an official letter to Charterhouse and Mr. Ayoade for an out of court settlement, but Charterhouse have not given any response yet. We are also informed by sources from within Charterhouse that several individuals, corporate bodies and some prominent associations in the entertainment industry have pleaded on behalf of Shatta Wale to Charterhouse and Mr. Ayoade to forgive the dancehall artiste and settle the issue out of court. Public Relations Officer for Charterhouse, George Quaye confirmed to Peacefmonline.com that there have been calls from several quarters, including some from very prominent people including politicians, Chiefs, Men of God and people from the entertainment industry apologizing on Shatta Wale’s behalf and calling for a truce. He also confirmed that indeed Shatta Wale’s lawyers have written an official letter asking for an out of court settlement adding that Charterhouse has not officially replied to the letter yet. Asked if Charterhouse will possibly consider an out of court settlement as pressure continues to mount on them to do so, George Quaye said that the decision is beyond him assuring that immediately any decision is made, he will mwould make known.

Source: Eugene Osafo-Nkansah/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana