A judge has granted a request by the daughter of the president of Cameroon to set aside the bench officer’s previous ruling allowing the default process to begin against the woman in a lawsuit brought by a singer from that nation.
On May 22, Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Shirley K. Watkins ordered the entry of default against both Anastasie Brenda Biya Eyenga, the daughter of Cameroon President Paul Biya, as well as Eyenga friend Marie Therese Yabit. Biya, 93, has served as the second president of Cameroon since 1982.
The allegations in the complaint by Cameroonian singer Dencia alleges civil harassment and both intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
Eyenga later asked for a reevaluation of the May ruling. The judge heard arguments on the reconsideration motion on Tuesday, took the issues under submission and on Thursday ruled in favor of both Eyenga and Yabit, who sought the same relief.
An entry of default is a formal court order recognizing that a party, usually the defendant, has failed to respond to a lawsuit or appear in court within the legally allotted time. It acts as a legal admission of the claims in the complaint but does not automatically grant relief or money.
In his court papers, Eyenga’s attorney said that during the relevant period, Eyenga lived in Geneva, Switzerland, and that Yabit also lived outside California, putting both beyond the legal reach of a California court. The defense attorney also said that a defendant’s legal assistant had been ordered to file a motion to quash, but failed to do so.
In yet another ruling in March, the judge said that rather than personal service, which Dencia has been unable to perform, the plaintiff could perform alternative service by posting the summons on Eyenga’s social media accounts, sending a copy of the summons and complaint to her attorney, emailing a copy of the summons and complaint to Eyenga’s last known address and filing proof with copies of the tasks along with a sworn declaration that all of those steps were taken.
Dencia’s real name is Reprudentia Sonkey. She is known for her fashion statements and appearances on red carpets at the Billboard Music Awards, the Grammys and the American Music Awards.
In addition to being an entertainer, Dencia has created several skin care and clothing brands, set up various businesses and founded the skin care brand Whitenicious by Dencia, of which she was the president and CEO, the suit states. Her companies flourished due to her reputation as a popular Cameroonian singer and trustworthy entrepreneur in skin care products, the suit additionally states.
Dencia has also designed outfits for such artists as Nicki Minaj, Rihanna and Christina Milian. In July 2015, Dencia was contacted by Eyenga’s public relations manager, who told the plaintiff that Eyenga, who eventually moved to Beverly Hills, admired her work and wanted her help in producing a photo shoot and in setting up her own brand, the suit states.
Eyenga returned to Cameroon in 2019 and the two lost contact, the suit states. In June 2021, Dencia was preparing to go to Cameroon the next month in the company of other musicians, including rapper Trey Songz, when a representative for Eyenga allegedly contacted the plaintiff about a birthday engagement and performing at Eyenga’s new hotel.
Eyenga asked Dencia for help getting her Instagram account certified, the suit states. But in a subsequent dispute, Eyenga accused Dencia of creating a fake account and trying to impersonate her, even though the plaintiff explained she was preoccupied with the death of her sister from cancer and could not help Eyenga get her account certified as the plaintiff had hoped, the suit states.
Eyenga, allegedly with Yabit’s help, accused Dencia on social media of identity theft and of being a “scammer” and a “fraudster,” the suit states.
A case management conference is scheduled Dec. 4.