Tuesday- 27th July, 2021: Popular Nollywood actor, Yomi Fabiyi, has gotten a slap on the wrist as the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) has vowed to prosecute him for releasing a movie about a case under judicial consideration.
Mrs Olayinka Adeyemi, the Director of Public Prosecution in Lagos State, told Ikeja Special Offences Court on Monday that Fabiyi produced a movie entitled “Oko Iyabo,” based on the court proceedings of June 24, 2021.
According to Mrs. Adeyemi, despite warnings during proceedings of June 24 that the matter was sub judice and, therefore, prohibited from public discussion elsewhere, Yomi Fabiyi went ahead and released a movie about the facts of the case.
The Directorate of Public Prosecution noted that the movie, which was released after the proceedings of June 24, defied the Judge’s directives by revealing sensitive information about the case which is before the court.
“Despite the warnings of this honourable court, an actor called Yomi Fabiyi went ahead and made a movie about the facts of this case.
“He used real names of the parties and witnesses in this matter in the movie. Our application is to exclude him, his privies and his agents from proceedings in court.
“He is not in court at the moment but his representatives may be in court. This is contempt of court and we intend to prosecute him and bring him before this court,” the DPP stated.
Reacting, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo expressed dissatisfaction about the development and ordered an investigation.
“This case is sub judice and you are not to be making videos and disparaging comments on social media. This needs to be investigated,” the judge said.
The lead defence counsel, Mr Dada Awosika (SAN), responding to the allegations, said that although he was aware of the movie, it was filmed before the criminal case began in court.
“The movie is about the controversy between two artists – Yomi Fabiyi and Iyabo Ojo. I saw the movie on YouTube.
“The two of them are supporters on different sides. Fabiyi is one supporter and Ojo is another supporter.
“This movie is about the controversy between both of them and they are not parties to this case,” Awosika said.
Justice Taiwo restated the fact that the allegations against Fabiyi should be investigated by authorities to enable legal actions to be taken against him if he is found indictable.
