Chief Tony Okoroji faces a major setback in his long-running defamation suit against Efe Omorogbe after changing lawyers and facing a court penalty.

Chief Tony Okoroji has suffered yet another major setback in his long-running defamation suit against Mr. Efe Omorogbe, as he changes his legal representation for the third time since the case began in 2018.

The latest twist follows reports of a worsening dispute between Chief Okoroji and his former legal team, White Dove Solicitors, over unpaid professional fees.

According to court filings and insider sources, the law firm is currently in a legal tussle with the former Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) chairman regarding fees allegedly owed for handling the ongoing defamation case.

However, it is alleged that the deeper disagreement centres on a non-settlement payment by Chief Okoroji from a corporate organisation which, according to White Dove Solicitors, was contractually due to them.

This concern echoes the 2017 leadership crisis that eventually led to his removal as chairman of the organisation’s board.

The latest change of counsel is expected to cause further delays in the already protracted litigation, which has stretched for seven years.

In a related development, counsel to Efe Omorogbe, B. E. Ehiwele, successfully sought a substantial penalty against Chief Okoroji.

The request was granted by Honourable Justice Folami of the Ikeja High Court, dealing another blow to the claimant’s position in the long-drawn case.

Also read: COSON boss, Tony Okoroji, quizzed, pleads for release (Video, Photos)

This development adds to what many observers describe as a mounting legal and reputational challenge for Chief Tony Okoroji, whose defamation suit has become one of the most contentious in Nigeria’s creative industry history.

Rtn. Victor Ojelabi

Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.