A Lagos-based woman, Osarobo Odigie, has taken legal action against popular TikTok influencer Habeeb Hamzat, known as Peller, accusing him of defamation, cyber harassment, and invasion of privacy.
The claim, outlined in a pre-action letter dated March 10, 2026, and signed by Bola Osineye of FA Garrick & Co., alleges that Peller made defamatory remarks about Odigie and shared a video of her online without her consent.
The incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of January 6, 2026, at Folixxx Lounge on the Lekki-Epe Expressway in Lagos. According to the letter, Odigie was at the lounge to purchase food when Peller’s loud outburst behind her startled her.
The lawyers alleged that after Odigie moved aside, Peller confronted her and told her to “shut up.” When she asked him to moderate his behavior, he allegedly resorted to verbal abuse, including Yoruba insults such as “Oloriburuku,” “Omo Ale,” and “Ashawo.”
FA Garrick & Co. described Peller’s remarks as “untrue, ridiculing and defamatory,” claiming they were intended to humiliate Odigie publicly. They further alleged that Peller recorded the encounter without her permission and shared the footage on Snapchat, WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram, and other platforms, which quickly went viral.
“Owing to your substantial online presence and following as a streamer and public influencer, the video went viral almost immediately… triggering thousands of comments, many of which reiterated and amplified your defamatory remarks against her,” the letter stated.
The claimant’s lawyers said the incident caused reputational damage, emotional distress, and threats to her personal safety. They are demanding a total of N395 million in damages, including N200 million for defamation, N100 million for emotional trauma and reputational harm, N75 million for cyberbullying-related distress, and N20 million for legal costs.
The legal team also demanded that Peller immediately remove the video from all platforms, cease further publication, and issue a public apology across his social media accounts and in two national newspapers, The PUNCH and The Guardian, acknowledging the statements were “false, malicious and injurious.” They further instructed him to ensure any third-party reposts are removed within seven days, warning that failure to comply would lead to formal legal proceedings.
The lawsuit stems from the viral confrontation at the Lagos lounge on January 6. Peller had previously issued a public apology on January 9, admitting that his reaction was inappropriate and expressing regret for his conduct during the incident.
