Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bull Haus Entertainment Lawrence Nana Asiamah Hanson, popularly known as “Bulldog” has filed a defamation suit against popular Reggae and Dancehall artiste, Shatta Wale.
Shatta Wale, in a recent social media post, alleged that Bulldog had a role to play in the death of artiste manager, Fennec Okyere in 2014.
The Ghana Police Service said it contacted Shatta Wale for questioning regarding the allegations against Bulldog and with the case being further investigated by the Cold Case Unit and Shatta Wale was cooperating.
However, Bulldog, in a statement of claim filed by his lawyer, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, wants the Court to order Shatta Wale to make a publication on his social media accounts retracting his “defamatory” words.
Bulldog is also seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining Shatta and his agents, workers, and servants from publishing any defamatory statements against him.
Bulldog also wants general, special, and punitive damages slapped against his former artiste “for the malicious publication of falsehood against the Plaintiff” and any other remedy the Court deems fit.
Lawrence Nana Asiamah Hanson popularly called Bulldog was once the manager of Shatta Wale.
Fennec Okyere murdered on March 13, 2014
Okyere, who was the manager of the controversial musician, Kwaw Kese, was killed at his Manet Gardens residence on the Spintex Road, Accra on Thursday, March 13 by unknown assailants.
He died at age 31.
Fennec Okyere buried on Saturday, April 26, 2014
Fennec was laid to rest after a funeral service at the forecourt of the Trade Fair Centre, LA-Accra on Saturday, April 26, 2014.
Bulldog arrested Thursday, May 15, 2014
It will be recalled that Bulldog was on Thursday, May 15, 2014, arrested in Kokomlemle, a suburb of Accra, as a prime suspect in the death of Okyere.
Alleged threatening messages and phone calls
According to the police, his arrest was based on threatening messages and phone calls Bulldog allegedly placed to the deceased whilst alive.
Charges preferred against Bulldog
He was therefore charged with conspiracy to commit murder and committing murder.
Bulldog in court on Monday, May 19, 2014
Bulldog made his first appearance in court on Monday, May 19, and was remanded into police custody to appear in court on June 2.
The prosecution asked permission to remand the suspect to enable the police continue with their investigations.
According to the prosecution, his detention would go a long way to assist the police’s investigations due to the sensitive nature of the case.
But, lawyer for Bulldog, Gary Nimako objected to calls for his client to be remanded in police custody.
He had argued that the charges leveled against his client – conspiracy to commit murder and committing murder – cannot hold because the prosecution has not been able to link his client to Fennec’s murder.
Bulldog granted bail on May 27, 2014
A Human Rights Court on Tuesday, May 27, 2014 granted Bulldog bail on the basis that the facts as the police presented and upon which they were holding him are “speculative” and do not link him to the charges that have been preferred against him.
On that basis, the court ruled that Bulldog deserves his freedom and should not have been held even for a day.
He was released from custody on May 28, 2014.
