Top star, Johnson Oyindamola, also known as Dammy Krane, was on Monday arraigned before an Igbosere Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos over alleged threat to life and defamation.
Oyindamola, 27, was arraigned on a three count charge bordering on conspiracy, threat to life, defamation, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace before Chief Magistrate Afolashade Botoku.
The pop star was said to have threatened the lives of staff of a betting company, Merrybet Gold Limited, on July 29, 2019, and also released a song in which he accused the firm of breach of contract.
The prosecutor, Inspector J .I Enang, told the court that the musician threatened a sport betting company, Merrybet Gold Limited, by posting an audio and video, on the internet accusing the company of owing him.
He said that the defendant attended a game show sponsored by the betting company but lost.
‘Dammy Krane’ was said to have, demanded some money for appearing on the show.
It was said that the firm disagreed, insisting that the sum was only given to winners.
The musician subsequently went on Cool FM radio where he allegedly accused the betting firm of owing him money and for breached of contractual agreement.
He was also accused of conspiring with others at large to conduct himself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace.
Dammy Krane was alleged to have threatened public peace when he posted an audio and video message on Cool FM 96.9.
Read Also: Five killed, seven injured in Lagos crashes
According to the charge before the court: “Oyindamola and others at large on July 29, 2019, at Cool FM in Lagos, conspired with others at large to commit felony to wit: Conduct likely to cause breach of peace and threat to life”.
“Oyindamola and others at large on the same date, time and place, threatened the life of the staff of Merrybet Gold Limited”.
He pleaded not guilty.
His counsel, Mr Adebayo Oniyelu, urged the court to grant him bail in liberal terms as a first time offender.
Oniyelu said that he would be produced whenever he is needed in court.
Responding, the prosecutor, Enang opposed the bail, saying the offence is a national issue.
When Chief Magistrate Botoku, asked to know the nature of the offence of the defendant, Enang insisted, ‘it is an International issue that is all over the media”.
The defendant’ s lawyer told the court that the defendant and the complainant had a disagreement over a breach of contract.
He said, “The defendant performed for the complainant and he was being owed the sum of N1million, and when he demanded for it, the next thing we saw was his arrest”.
On enquiry by the court, one of the company’s representative, Mr Otemu Anaonye, told the court that the company is not owing the defendant.
The company’s lawyer, Mr N. Anachebe, who was also holding watching brief, for the company, said, ” The defendant posted audio and video messages on his Instagram page claiming that the company was owing him. He was asked to pull it down, but he refused.”
Magistrate Botoku asked, if the crux of the matter was defamation, she said if so, it should be a civil matter.
Anachebe, responded that ” A case of defamation can be both criminal and civil”.
Magistrate Botoku granted him bail in the sum of N50,000, with one surety in like sum.
The case was adjourned until October 11.
Leave a Reply