Lagos — Award-winning Nigerian-born jazz and soul musician, Bukola Elemide, a..k.a Asa, has slammed a N700 million suit against publishers and editors of a Lagos based soft-sell magazine, 'News of the People' magazine at the Lagos High Court.

In a writ of summons instituted on her behalf by Lagos lawyer, Mena Ajakpovi, the musician and her manager, Janet Nwose, have sued the reporter of the alleged defamatory story, the editor of the magazine and the registered parent company of the magazine.

The claimants have sought an order of court, declaring the allegation of lesbianism against Asa and Janet as false, illegal and a violation of their rights, more so that the allegation is entirely false.

They stated that the defendants have in most reckless manner portrayed them as loose, licentious and persons with perverted sexual orientation who lack any claim to moral rectitude.

They added since the publication they have been inundated with phone calls from relatives, friends and fans on the matter and that this has affected the perception of people to their persons.

They argued that the defamatory statement is calculated to discredit and malign them in their unblemished careers as international music artistes with high moral standing which they have consistently conveyed in their songs and interactions with their teeming fans in Nigeria and abroad.

In the summons, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent, Asa claimed that the publication was not only malicious but also a clear case of a well-orchestrated plan by Publishers of the magazine to bring down her and also bring her into disrepute.

She added that she filed the action to clear her name and sustain her good reputation and that of her Manager. In addition to the declaratory orders, the two dreadlocks wearing ladies, Asa and Janet , have sued the defendants for a sum of N700million as damages.

They have also sought further orders of court restraining the defendants from further publication of malicious statements against them.

It will be recalled that in the Dec 14-22, 2009 edition of the 'News of the People' a story captioned "Lesbianism trails Asa and Manager" was published, alleging that the two ladies were involved in a lesbian relationship.