A Lagos state high court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square has ordered that Nigerian entertainer and On-air Personality, Toke Makinwa, to pay her ex-husband and fitness entrepreneur, Maje Ayida, the sum of One million naira for defamation.
Ayida had alleged in his suit that in the book “On Becoming” published by his estranged wife, allegations were made against him which dented his public image and reputation resulting in suffering from considerable distress and embarassment.
In addition to demanding Five Hundred thousand naira each from both Makinwa and the publisher of the book, he also demanded a retraction of the alleged defamatory contents of the book as well as an unreserved apology.
Furthermore, Ayida also demanded a withdrawal of all copies of the book from circulation.
In the court judgement delivered by Justice Olukayode Ogunjobi, he ordered the payment of the money to any charity organization of the claimant’s choice. He also ordered that the defamatory portions of the book be expunged in the next 30 days.
This judgement comes nearly three years after Ayida dragged Makinwa to court over the publication following their break up in 2015.
Toke Makinwa who just celebrated her 36th birthday is yet to make any public comment on suit.
A brief on the book “On Becoming’ by Toke Makinwa
Originally published in November 2016, the book “On Becoming” by Toke Makinwa is a memoir highlighting the media personality’s struggle with blinding betrayal, finding forgiveness and drawing strength from her faith in God.
The book ‘On Becoming’ is Toke’s journey through pain to victory sharing what it feels like to be one of the most talked about media figure in the Nigerian media space.
Toke who shared in the book that she never envisaged that she would ever be a media personality uncovers the turbulence experienced in her marriage in the midst of building her career and dealing with open wounds from being an orphan.
The book reveals the truth behind her 14-year relationship with the man she finally married.
A marriage according to the book that ended in an atrocious scandal that nearly brought her to her knees.
According to her, she eventually finds solace in her relationship with God but this too does not come easy.
In the book, Toke gave a detailed description of her marriage relationship with Maje Ayida.
Toke’s separation with Ayida
In 2015, rumors made the rounds that Ayida’s eight years in a secret relationship with his girlfriend, Anita Solomon, had resulted in a pregnancy.
After fans waited for Toke’s response to the rumors, she finally cleared the air in a shocking manner saying she was blessed to be able to do what she does for a living.
Toke was said to have ignore the cheating rumors earlier; but in March 2016, Toke Makinwa filed for a divorce after all the messy infidelity scandal surrounding the escapades between her husband, Maje Ayida, and his longtime girlfriend, Anita Solomon made the airwaves.
Makinwa claimed she couldn’t go on with the relationship.
An Igbosere High Court in Lagos dissolved the union between Toke Makinwa and Maje Ayida on Thursday October 2017, giving Maje’s adulterous lifestyle as the major reason for the dissolution of the marriage.
