Adedokun Waliyu 
Destiny Etiko, the Nigerian actress, has served Queeneth Hilbert, her colleague, with a pre-action notice for alleged defamation.
The controversy started after Queeneth accused Destiny of snatching the wealthy lovers of their other colleagues in a now-deleted Instagram post.
She also claimed that Destiny was “manipulative”, alleging that she ran away from Asaba because people were waiting to deal with her.
In a letter dated March 7, Destiny, through her counsel, denied the allegations. She argued that “it is a ploy to malign and defame my reputation, cast aspersion on my personality”.
The letter demanded that Queeneth “cease and desist” from posting any false statement about Destiny and retract all videos involving her within 48 hours.
She was also asked to publish a public apology and pay N100 million in damages. The letter said failure to comply will result in further legal action.
“We are solicitors to ‘Destiny Etiko’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘Our Client’) and on whose instruction, we write as follows: Our client is an actress, a public figure, and a well-known social media personality with a large following in the media space,” it reads.
“Our client’s attention was drawn to your official Instagram publication on “queenethhilbert” dated the 6th day of March, 2025, wherein you mentioned our client’s name and alleged that our client, a reputable figure, always has the propensity of manipulating and engaging in relationships with individuals within your knowledge for the purpose of obtaining material benefits.
“You also alleged that our client had an amorous and sexual intimacy with an individual named “Tony” from Benin, and further stated that our client made false representations to the public by inflating the amount received by her in an attempt to deceive her audience.
“Our client takes these allegations very seriously and is concerned about the injury the publication would do to her reputation. Moreover, our client unequivocally denies the allegation and asserts that it is a ploy to malign and defame her reputation, cast aspersion on her personality, inflict emotional distress, and instigate the public, undermine her professional standing and lower her in the estimation of right-thinking members of the public.
“Our client has informed us that your publication is not only false but malicious in all respects. Sure enough, human error is replete in our day-to-day activity but driven by a sense of responsibility, we must restitute in order to create a stable society.
“Our demand: cease and desist from publishing, disseminating, and making any further false and defamatory statements about our client. A retraction of the derogatory publication no later than 48 hours of the receipt of this letter and an apology published on the same platform you used in disseminating the defamatory statement.
“Additionally, payment of ₦100,000,000 (One hundred million Naira) as damages for the malicious publication made against our client. Take notice that failure to comply with the above request, we will have no alternative but to exercise whatever rights and remedies we have under the law. All legal rights shall be explored, including but not limited to injunctive reliefs and the institution of legal proceedings against you for defamation of character, injurious falsehood, and malicious publication made against our client.”
