Shatta Wale’s request for an out-of-court settlement of Bulldog’s defamation lawsuit is approved by the court.

Ghanaian musician Shatta Wale has been granted his request for an out-of-court settlement in his defamation case filed against him by Lawrence Asiamah, also known as Bulldog.

The court granted the request on March 7, 2023, after the two parties agreed to settle the matter amicably.

Bulldog had sued dancehall musician Shatta Wale over claims of defamation. Bulldog, who is the plaintiff, is seeking damages for the alleged defamation and the same for the malicious publication of falsehoods against him by the defendant.

The case had been ongoing for several months, with both parties making several appearances in court. However, in a surprising turn of events, the two parties have now agreed to settle the matter outside of court.

“We wish to pray for one more adjournment to attempt settlement, and depending on the outcome, we may apply formally for an extension of time to file our witness statement,” Dr Justice Srem-Sai told the court. 

Justice Joseph Adu Agyemang, presiding over jurisdiction 13 of the Accra High Court, after listening to the parties, encouraged them to settle the matter out of court.

The case has been adjourned to April 18, 2023

The plaintiff is seeking the following relief:

• A declaration of the court that the series of publications made by the defendant, as particularised in the Statement of Claim, are defamatory to the plaintiff
• A declaration by the court that the series of publications made by the defendant in the Statement of Claim are malicious
• An order of the Court directed the defendant to, on all his social media pages or accounts, make a publication on seven (7) consecutive days of an unqualified retraction of and unreserved apology for the defamatory words that the Defendant has published about the Plaintiff, such retraction and apology to be vetted and approved by the Plaintiff’s lawyers.
• An order of the Court for a perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, his agents, workmen, assigns, and servants from publishing or further publishing any defamatory words against the plaintiff
• General damages for defamation.
• Special damages for defamation.
• Punitive damages for malicious publication of falsehood against the Plaintiff.
• Cost, and any other orders or remedies that the Court may deem fit.