Amazon Web Services Nigeria, a subsidiary of Amazon Inc. and the creator of Prime Video Nigeria, has refuted claims that its film, “Gang of Lagos,” is harmful to anyone. The Lagos High Court is currently hearing a lawsuit filed by the Isale Eko Descendants Union (IDU) against the company, where the IDU is seeking N10 billion in damages over the film’s content.
In response to the lawsuit, Amazon stated in Lagos, asserting that the film does not infringe upon anyone’s rights. Justice Idowu Alakija of the Lagos High Court has scheduled an October date to consider Amazon’s preliminary objection to the suit.
The defendants have raised concerns about the jurisdiction of the Lagos State Government in censoring films and videos produced within its boundaries, as outlined in the Cinematograph Law of Lagos State, 2004.
Amazon argues that the state’s Cinematography Law is irrelevant in this matter, as they question the authority of the Lagos State Government to regulate films and videos.
The defendants have also requested that the court dismiss the suit, citing the lack of jurisdiction to hear the case under Section 25(1)(q) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999. They contend that the National Film and Video Censors Board Act, 1993, is the applicable law rather than the Cinematograph Law of Lagos State.