Model drags bank to court for using her photo without authorisation
By Sewe Ishola
The Elite Model Look 2013 winner, Nneoma Anosike, 22 has dragged Wema Bank Plc. to court accusing it of using her photos for commercial purposes without her authorisation.
According to Premium Times, she is seeking an order directing the defendant to pay N75 million for allegedly passing off her services.
She is also seeking another N20 million for the breach of her privacy by advertising her private correspondence.
Anosike, who instituted the legal action at the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court through her father and lawyer, Frank Anosike, also wants the defendant to issue an apology in two national dailies in Nigeria and in the U.S. and also pay N2 million as cost of filing the suit.
According to the statement of claims attached to the suit, the plaintiff argued that she was on the verge of renewing her contract with Ford Models Inc., which took her to the U.S., until they summoned her to a meeting and presented her with the photo posted on the bank’s page.
Anosike claimed the bank mutilated and edited her professional photo and used it on their page and that has jeopardized her contract renewal.
In their response, the bank said it had sourced 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.
It said it was not aware of any modelling contract between Anosike and Ford Models Inc.
The case has been adjourned to June 15 for further hearing.