13th December, 2021
Nigerian brothers, Abimbola ‘Abel’ Osundairo and Olabinjo ‘Ola’ Osundairo will sue convicted U.S. actor Jussie Smollett and his lawyers for defamation.
Smollett was found guilty for faking a homophobic attack, claiming it was done by Trump-loving supporters.
The Nigerians said the actor paid them $3,500 to stage the attack.
Their testimony was the basis of the decision of the Chicago jurors to convict Smollett last week.
The Nigerians had sued Smollett’s attorneys in April 2019, after the initial set of charges were dropped, claiming the case damaged their careers and reputations.
They claimed in the defamation lawsuit against lawyers Mark Geragos and Tina Glandian that they were maliciously portrayed as liars in the public.
Among the suggestions the lawyers made was that the brothers, who Smollett knew because he had enlisted them for personal training, might have been wearing white face when they attacked him on January 29.’
The brothers’ lawsuit said Glandian also inferred that Abel engaged in a sexual relationship with Smollett, and noted that homosexuality is illegal in the brothers’ home country.
‘Same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Nigeria, which can result in 14 years of imprisonment,’ the lawsuit said. ‘If the accused is married, the punishment is death by stoning.
‘Ms. Glandian’s globally broadcasted statements that Bola Osundairo is homosexual endangers him and the lives of his Nigerian family.’
A federal judge stayed their lawsuit until the criminal proceedings are completed for Smollett, who has not yet been sentenced.
The brothers were arrested following Smollett’s purported attack, but never charged.
The brothers’ legal team is expected to file an update to the court by February 2; their lawyers said in August that ‘with regard to settlement, nothing has changed in the Plaintiffs’ position.’
The city of Chicago is also pursuing a legal bid against the actor to recover the $130,000 spent on police investigation, of what later became a hoax hate crime.
Smollett has been shamed for still refusing to admit that he staged a hoax race attack after being found guilty.
The actor stood rigid and showed no emotion as the guilty verdicts on five of the six counts of disorderly conduct were read out in the Chicago courtroom by Judge James Linn last Thursday.
He then scuttled out of court with his family, refusing to answer questions, and he is yet to make a public comment.
His sentencing date has not yet been set but he faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.
*Reported by Daily Mail