Peggy Ovire has issued a fiery legal response to the ₦100 million lawsuit filed against her by actor Taye Arimoro, insisting that his entire narrative is fabricated, incomplete, and meant to paint himself as a victim after allegedly assaulting members of her film crew. In the detailed letter released by her lawyers, Ovire rejected every accusation of assault, unlawful detention, harassment, and human-rights violation. Her legal team described Arimoro’s version of events as a “half-story” crafted to hide what they say actually happened on set. According to the letter, Arimoro allegedly attacked the production manager, Luke Obayi, slapping and punching him before knocking him to the ground simply because he was asked to return to set and complete the role he had already been fully paid for. Ovire’s driver, Joshua Madu, was also reportedly assaulted, sustaining injuries and bleeding from the ear and nose after Arimoro allegedly head-butted him while trying to escape the scene. The lawyers noted that several neighbours who witnessed the incident voluntarily submitted statements to the police confirming Arimoro’s violent behaviour. They further explained that Arimoro was not unlawfully detained, as he claimed. Rather, crew members tried to stop him from fleeing after he allegedly assaulted two people and left one of them unconscious. The letter insists that Ovire never laid a hand on Arimoro, except for a brief push while trying to stop him from deflating her car tyres during his attempted getaway. Ovire’s camp also dismissed the Instagram Live video Arimoro posted as a “smokescreen” designed to manipulate public opinion and distract from his own actions. They accused him of selectively obtaining only parts of the CCTV footage that favour him, while ignoring the full evidence available to police and witnesses. The letter also rubbished Arimoro’s claims that he was mobbed, beaten, or left with a fractured jaw, calling those allegations “fabricated.” It stated that the only tyre deflated at the scene was Arimoro’s, done to stop him from escaping before law enforcement arrived. The dispute is now under investigation by both the police and the Actors Guild of Nigeria. Ovire’s lawyers described Arimoro’s ₦100 million demand as premature, misleading, and entirely baseless since the allegations are still being examined by authorities. They maintained that Ovire did not violate Arimoro’s rights in any form, arguing instead that it was Arimoro who violated the rights of two innocent crew members. Her legal team warned that she is prepared to file a petition for assault, breach of peace, and possibly defamation once investigations are concluded. In closing, the letter made it clear that Ovire will not apologise, will not pay compensation, and will not accept responsibility for accusations she insists are rooted in lies, manipulation, and selective storytelling.
