Prominent Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh and her bodyguard, Gbenga, have been summoned by the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Wuse Zone 6 for alleged assault and trespass.
Elvis Abuyere, the Chief Executive of Skyewise Group Limited and proprietor of an Abuja-based auto dealership company, filed the claim under case number CR/359/2024.
In the court summons dated August 6, 2024, Iyanna directed the two defendants to appear in court on August 24, 2024, to face the allegations against them.
He added that Dikeh approached the vehicle manufacturer in January about purchasing a brand new Changan Uni-K 2023 model from Mikano Motors.
The complainant, who was said to have a dealership relationship with Mikano, later paid Mikano N85 million in full for the car, with the promise that Dikeh would pay the remaining in installments within three months of getting the car.
Dikeh’s first deposit was for her used 2008/2009 Lexus, which was valued at N37 million.
She paid an additional payment of N3.5 million but did not clear the remainder by the end of April, when the payment window expired, therefore breaking the agreement.
On July 30, the actress contacted the car business to have the vehicle repaired, and it was taken in for maintenance. After completing the repairs, the auto firm wanted the remaining N2.7 million from her.
However, she was said to have violently invaded the complainant’s company premises in Maitama, Abuja, with her bodyguard and two ladies, committing “criminal trespass.”
Dikeh is also accused of beating the plaintiff and other employees of his company. The four persons stopped vehicle company operations, caused property damage, and threatened to use social media to destroy the complainant’s business. They were later apprehended by police.
Earlier today, the Inspector-General of Police Monitoring Unit of the Nigeria Police Force summoned Dikeh to its headquarters in connection with an investigation into criminal defamation, cyberbullying, and forgery, among other accusations.
According to the invitation letter signed by the Head of the IGP Monitoring Unit, A.A. Elleman, the actress’ name appears prominently in the unit’s inquiry.
On Friday, Dikeh stated on her Instagram page that she had not been detained or jailed by the “police or any law enforcement agency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I am in my house, enjoying God’s goodness,” she said.
The Nollywood actress stated that she is a “law-abiding citizen” and that she cannot be involved in crime or criminal activities.
The statement read further, “At no point in my life has there ever been a search warrant, arrest warrant, or any other form of warrant from the good office of the Nigeria police to my humble self.
“I will always honour invitations extended to me, whether to help the law enforcement agencies in their job or to provide clarifications on issues.
“This is without prejudice to the fact that I will exercise my rights against anyone, persons, or group of persons who attempt to peddle fake stories about me or my brand or defame my character. I will come for you. This is just to let those behind this false narrative know that they failed woefully.”
