$5million Extortion Case: Billionaire Dangote Wants Ex-Girlfriend, Autumn Spikes Gagged As US Court Fixes Feb 9 For Hearing
Billionaire businessman, Aliko Dangote, has asked a U.S court to clamp a preliminary gag order on his ex-girlfriend, Autumn Spikes, who recently took to the social media to expose their secret affair of nearly 10 years.
Ms Spikes had, on January 1, via her Instagram handle, allarounda1, posted a viral video showing herself and Mr Dangote with part of the buttocks of the African richest man exposed.
Mr Dangote, who recently sued Ms Spikes for allegedly trying to extort $5million from him, hopes to obtain the “gag order” to stop her from carrying out an alleged threat to expose his private and family life on social media and media talk shows.
He filed the “petition for entry of the preliminary injunction”, through his U.S.-based lawyers on January 25, five days after he filed the libel suit on January 20.
“Wherefore, the plaintiff prays that the court enter order of preliminary injunction and order defendant Autumn Spikes to show cause why she should not be the subject of gag order,” Mr Dangote’s only prayer in his petition read.
PREMIUM TIMES confirmed on Saturday that the Miami-Dade County Court in Florida, U.S, has fixed February 9 for the hearing of the African richest man’s “petition for entry of the preliminary injunction”.
The hearing notice was issued Friday.
Mr Dangote’s lawyer, Bruce Fleisher, stated in the petition that defence lawyer, Paul Petruzzi, “has not agreed to accept service of process”, but “this complaint has been provided to him immediately upon filing”.
‘I anticipate an onslaught on social media, talk shows’
In the petition, Mr Dangote accused Ms Spikes of making “extortive demands” of $5million in the form of an alimony.
According to him, there was never a marital relationship between him and Ms Spikes granting her the right to an alimony, which is the money a court orders someone to pay regularly to their former wife or husband after their marriage has ended.
“Mr Dangote, who said he “anticipates an onslaught of social media”, appealed to the court to grant him “the protection” of “a preliminary restraint before evidentiary hearing” in his suit.
His court document seen by PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday, read in part, “There has never been a marital relationship or dependency relationship between the plaintiff and the defendant.
“Nevertheless, the defendant has made extortive demands upon the plaintiff pursuant to Fla. Stat. 836.05 unless he provides her with money or support which he is not obligated to pay pursuant to Fla. Stat. 771.01 et. seq.
“The defendant has made a claim tantamount to demand for lump sum alimony of five million Dollars ($5,000,000.00).
“Upon knowledge and belief, Autumn Spikes’ claim is that she will expose the defendant’s private life and family to talk shows and news media unless he complies with her demands.”
The document added, “The plaintiff anticipates an onslaught of social media and/or talk show requests with the service of this action.
