TikTok Star Habeeb Hamzat Sued For ₦395 Million Over Cyber Harassment In Viral Lounge Incident

TikTok Star Habeeb Hamzat Sued For ₦395 Million Over Cyber Harassment In Viral Lounge Incident

OpenLife reports that a confrontation at Folixxx Lounge in Lagos has escalated into a legal battle.

Entrepreneur Osarobo Odigie is taking TikTok influencer Habeeb Hamzat to court, alleging defamation, cyber harassment, and invasion of privacy.

According to a pre-action letter from her lawyers at FA Garrick & Co., the January 6 incident began when Odigie was simply buying food at the lounge. She was reportedly startled by Hamzat’s loud behavior behind her.

“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,” the letter reads.

The letter claims Hamzat confronted her after she stepped aside, demanding to know why she moved. When Odigie asked him to moderate his behavior, he allegedly responded with harsh verbal insults, including Yoruba curses like “Oloriburuku,” “Omo Ale,” and “Ashawo.”

What made the situation worse, the lawyers said, was that Hamzat recorded Odigie without her permission and shared the video widely on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Snapchat.

“You proceeded to escalate the situation by producing your mobile phone and using the same to record our client without her consent,” the legal team stated.

The viral video, amplified by Hamzat’s large following, sparked a wave of online harassment. According to Odigie’s lawyers, she has endured emotional distress and fears for her safety.

As part of her demands, Odigie is seeking ₦395 million in damages. This includes ₦200 million for defamation, ₦100 million for emotional trauma, ₦75 million for cyberbullying, and ₦20 million to cover legal fees.

Her legal team also wants the video removed and a public apology issued online and in national newspapers, warning that failure to comply within seven days could lead to a lawsuit.

Hamzat, known as Peller, had previously posted a public apology on January 9, acknowledging that his reaction during the lounge incident was out of character and expressing regret over the situation.