One of the financial institutions in Nigeria, Wema Bank Plc, has been dragged to a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos for allegedly using pictures of a model for commercial purposes without the necessary permission.
The model, a US-based Nigerian named Nneoma Anosike, sued the bank through her father, Frank Anosike, who doubles as her lawyer, for N97 million as damages.
The 22-year-old model said Wema Bank used her photo, on April 11, 2016, for a commercial on Instagram without first reaching her for permission, a development she claimed has made her lost her management deal with Ford Models Inc in the US.
Ms Anosike urged the court to order Wema Bank to pay N75 million for allegedly passing off her services, and to pay her N20 million for the breach of her privacy by advertising her private correspondence; publish a written apology in two national dailies in Nigeria and in the US; and pay N2 million as cost of filing the suit.
She is also seeking an injunction restraining the defendant from passing off or causing others to pass off her professional services and a declaration that she is entitled to her privacy of her correspondence under Section 37 of the Nigerian Constitution.
But in its statement of defence, the defendant averred that the bank was not a party to the alleged modelling contract between the plaintiff and the American company and was not privy to it.
The bank also stated that the photo in question was sourced from social media for its weekly online motivational and educational series, intended to inspire going online users.
The bank denied using the plaintiff’s photo for any advertisement purposes or for any commercial gain but for purely free educational purpose under its Corporate Social Responsibility programme.
Justice Ibrahim Buba adjourned the matter till June 15 for further hearing.
