UK-based Nigerian Accuses Bloomberg, WSJ of Using her Photo Without Permission

Ololade Adeyanju/

A Nigerian lady living in the UK, Mary Agbesanwa, has accused international business magazine, Bloomberg, of using her photo on its Instagram page, which has over four million followers, without her permission.

She also accused other publications, including the World Street Journal and the UK Mirror, of doing the same.

She said the photograph was taken without her knowledge as she was leaving the gym after work.

In a Twitter thread, yesterday, Agbesanwa, who works in Financial Services, said the action of the publications, most especially that of Bloomberg, is costing her a lot of distress.

She said friends and associates have been bombarding her with enquiries about her connection with the subject of the article the photo was used to illustrate.

She wrote, “Bloomberg @business you have a photo of me on your Instagram (4million+ followers) that I have never seen before or given permission to use.

“I have no idea how you were able to obtain this photo (of me leaving the gym after work).

“The topic is nothing to do with me and it is very distressing that I keep getting sent this photo from friends and ex-colleagues. Can you respond to my emails and DMs ASAP.”

She said her repeated efforts at reaching out to both Bloomberg and a photojournalist with the European Pressphoto Agency (EPA), Tolga Akmen, who is claiming credit for the photo, have been rebuffed.

She disclosed that Bloomberg has now removed the photograph from its Instagram page.

She also claimed to have the knowledge that Akmen has made between £900 and £2,250 from the photo.

“Update: I have his phone number and email address. (I) have sent polite messages for a response and he has now blocked me.

“I also see the photo is being used on other publications like the mirror and Wall Street Journal

“Update: Although they have ignored my messages about how they were able to obtain the photo, Bloomberg @business have taken the photo down from Instagram.

“@TolgaAkmen continues to ignore me yet from what I can see, he has made anything between £900-£2,250 from the photo.”

Agbesanwa, however, did not say if she intended to take any further action on the matter.

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