TikTok personality Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller risks legal action as a Lagos-based woman, Osarobo Odigie accuses him of alleged defamation, cyber harassment, and invasion of privacy, demanding N395 million in damages.
In a pre-action letter dated March 10, 2026, signed by Bola Osineye of FA Garrick & Co., Odigie’s legal team outlined the circumstances surrounding an incident said to have occurred in the early hours of January 6, 2026, at Folixxx Lounge in Lekki.
According to the letter, the claimant was at the lounge to purchase food when she was confronted by the influencer following what was described as a sudden disruption.
“Our client was present at Folixxx Lounge… for the purpose of purchasing food. While standing at the counter/cashier area, our client was suddenly startled by your loud outburst directly behind her.
“You aggressively approached her and proceeded to instruct her to ‘shut up’. When she requested that you moderate yourself in a public space, you immediately resorted to verbal abuse, including but not limited to Yoruba curses,” the letter read.
The lawyers further alleged that Hamzat escalated the encounter by recording Odigie without her consent and sharing the footage across multiple social media platforms, including Snapchat, WhatsApp, TikTok, and Instagram.
“You proceeded to escalate the situation by producing your mobile phone and using the same to record our client without her consent. You thereafter published the video on your Snapchat, WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram and other social media platforms, causing public ridicule of our client,” the letter added.
They argued that the video quickly gained traction online due to Hamzat’s large following, exposing the claimant to widespread criticism and reputational harm.
“Our client has suffered significant emotional distress and has developed genuine fears for her safety.
“Owing to your substantial online presence and following as a streamer and public influencer, the video went viral almost immediately… triggering thousands of comments, many of which reiterated and amplified your defamatory remarks against her,” the letter stated.
The claimant is seeking N200 million as compensation for alleged defamatory publication, N100 million for emotional trauma and reputational damage, N75 million for distress linked to cyberbullying and threats, and N20 million for legal expenses.
In addition to monetary compensation, the legal team is demanding the immediate removal of the video from all platforms and a public apology issued across Hamzat’s social media accounts and in two national newspapers.
“You are required to issue a clear, unequivocal, and public apology to our client across all platforms where the defamatory content was published,” the lawyers said.
Although Hamzat had earlier issued a public apology on January 9, admitting his reaction was out of character, the claimant’s counsel warned that failure to meet the new demands within seven days would lead to the commencement of formal legal proceedings.
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