Zainab Sadiku
A Nigerian model based in USA, Nneoma Anosike has filed a petition against Wema Bank Plc. accusing the bank of using her photos for commercial purposes without her consent.
The 22-year-old model who instituted the legal action through her father and lawyer Frank Anosike, at Lagos Division of the Federal High Court also wants the defendant to issue an apology in two national dailies in Nigeria and in the U.S. which includes payment N2 million as cost of filing the suit.
She is also seeking another N20 million for the breach of her privacy by advertising her private correspondence.
The plaintiff is seeking an order directing the defendant to pay N75 million for allegedly passing off her services.
She said the Bank, on April 11, 2016, used her photo on their Instagram account for commercial purposes without authorisation from management company, Ford Models Inc.
According to the statement of claims attached to the suit, the plaintiff claimed that she is a reputable international model who had won many laurels within and outside the country, including the ‘Elite Model Look’ 2013 in Nigeria and based on this Pepsi-Cola Nigeria made her its brand ambassador for Aquafina water.
She said she was on the verge of renewing her contract with Ford Models Inc., which took her to the U.S., until the management summoned her to a meeting on April 12 and presented her with the photo on Instagram posted on the bank’s page.
Anosike said Wema bank mutilated and edited her professional photo for the advert and used it on their page and that has jeopardized her contract renewal with Ford Models Inc.
Wema Bank however said that it got the photo from social media and used it for its weekly motivational and educational series under its Corporate Social Responsibility programme and not for advertisement purposes or any commercial gain.
Wema Bank said it was not aware of any modelling contract between the Model and Ford Models Inc.
Justice Ibrahim Buba adjourned the case to June 15 for further hearing.
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