Nigerian celebrity lawyer, Stan Alieke has revealed that using the word ‘allegedly’ will not protect one from a lawsuit.
Sharing his thoughts on his Instagram story, he noted that the word ‘allegedly’ is not a shield against a defamation suit.
Stan who described ‘Allegedly’ as the most abused word in Nigeria, explained that it implies a lack of proof or an unnamed source.
He further stated that one can’t intentionally defame someone or knowingly spread a falsehood against a person and expect the word “allegedly” to provide legal protection.
A part of his post read;
“You cannot intentionally defame or knowingly tell a falsehood against a person & think that a sprinkle of the word ‘allegedly’ will save you from a lawsuit if the defamed person decides to take action. If you claim that a source told you, the court will ask you to provide the source, or you will be deemed to be the source. Even spreading a falsehood grants the defamed the locus to lawsuit against you the gossipmonger even if the original source cannot be found or named.”
His revelation has sparked a variety of reactions among internet users.
While some found his advice thought-provoking and insightful, others saw it as amusing leading to further debates online.
