Justice Idowu Alakija of the Lagos High Court has endorsed the terms of settlement entered into by the Isale Eko Descendants Union (IDU) and Amazon Web Services along with 11 other defendants as a judgement of the court.
IDU instituted the suit seeking N10 billion damages against Amazon and other producers of the movie titled “Gangs of Lagos” for alleged depiction of Isale Eko as a den of criminals and Eyo masquerade as a gang of murderers.
Other claimants in the suit are: Ayodele Bajulaiye, who sued on behalf of the Bajulaiye Chieftaincy Family and Eyo Iga Bajulaiye, and Abdul-Waheed Ayeni, who sued on behalf of the Sasore Chieftaincy Family and Eyo Iga Sasore.
The 1st to 12th defendants are :the Attorney General of Lagos State, Lagos State Video and Film Censors Board, Jadesola Osiberu, Kemi Lala Akindoju, Adesegun Adetoro, Demi Olubanwo, Olumide Soyombo, Bankole Wellington, Adesua Etomi-Wellington, Kola Aina, Greoh Limited and Amazon Web Services Nigeria for alleged sacrilegious and scandalous depiction of Eyo Masquerade in Gangs of Lagos.
In the terms of settlement entered, the trial judge ordered Amazon Web Services and other defendants to tender apology to IDU for erroneously portraying and disparaging the cultural heritage of the well respected Eyo masquerade and the peace-loving nature and the long-standing traditions of the Isale-Eko People.
The judgment read in part:”the 3rd – 11th Respondents (the film producers) shall jointly issue a letter recognizing the applicants position that the movie titled “Gangs of Lagos” erroneously portrayed and disparaged the cultural heritage of the well respected Eyo Masquerade and the peace-loving nature and the long-standing traditions of the Isale-Eko People, and shall therein, tender an unreserved apology to the applicants: Isale Eko Descendants Union in this regard.
“The 12th Respondent (Amazon Web Services Nigeria Limited) shall issue on its: Letter Head, a letter recognizing the applicants’ (Isale Eko Descendants Union) position that the movie titled “Gangs of Lagos” erroneously portrayed and disparaged the cultural heritage of the well-respected Eyo Masquerade and the peace-loving nature and the long-standing traditions of the Isale-Eko People, and shall therein, tender an unreserved apology to the applicants in this regard”.
