Lawyers for artiste manager Lawrence Nana Asiamah Hanson aka Bulldog and Shatta Wale have begun negotiations to settle the defamation case brought against the latter by the former out of court.
The lawyer for Bulldog, Justice Srem Sai, made this known when they appeared in court on Tuesday, March 7.
He told the court presided by Justice Joseph Adu Agyemang Owusu that the parties were unable to file their witness statements as directed because of negotiations for a settlement.
“The case is subject to settlement. We wish to pray for one more adjournment to attempt a settlement and depending on the outcome we may apply formally for an extension of time to file our witness statement,” the counsel told the court.
The case has been adjourned to April 18, 2023.
Background
Bulldog in 2022 had sued his former artiste for defamation.
This was after the musician threatened to expose his alleged secret regarding the death of the late artiste manager, Fennec Okyere, among others.
In the court documents filed at an Accra High Court, Bullgod’s lawyers indicated that these statements seek to suggest that he planned, effected or had a hand in Mr Okyere’s death.
They added that some of Shatta Wale’s claims also implied that “the Plaintiff is a person who engages in illicit gun violence, contract killing and other related crimes,” and also “that the Plaintiff is in the trade of procuring, controlling, and arranging prostitutes in return for money and other material gains.”
Bulldog is seeking a declaration from the court that these statements and others highlighted in the suit are defamatory and malicious.
He is also calling on the court to direct Shatta Wale to retract his allegations and apologise to him.
Among other things, Bulldog is seeking “general damages for defamation, special damages for defamation, punitive damages for the malicious publication of falsehood against the plaintiff, cost, and any other orders or remedies that the Court may deem fit.”
