The Delta High Court in Effurun has ruled against prominent blogger Linda Ikeji, ordering her to pay N30 million as general damages to the Neo Black Movement (NBM) of Africa for a libelous publication.
The lawsuit, which was brought by the Registered Trustees of NBM of Africa along with Ese Kakor, Felix Kupa, and Mayor Onyebueke, sought N1 billion in damages for defamation and libel.
In delivering the judgment, Justice Roli Daibo-Harriman also awarded N300,000 as the cost of litigation against the Nigerian blogger. Additionally, the court mandated Ikeji to issue a retraction of the libelous publication on her blog and in national newspapers.
Furthermore, the judge ordered Ikeji to refrain from making any further damaging publications against the Claimants and members of the NBM of Africa.
In her ruling, Justice Daibo-Harriman unequivocally described the terms used by the defendant in her publication, such as “dreaded cultist group,” “black axe,” and “criminal organization,” as defamatory.
The lawsuit stemmed from Ikeji’s publication on October 19, 2021, where she allegedly referred to the NBM of Africa using derogatory terms.
Reacting to the judgment, lead counsel to the claimants, Mr. Kelvin Agbroko, emphasized that it serves as a lesson to bloggers to verify information before publication. He praised the court’s decision as well-deserved and comprehensive.
President of NBM of Africa, Mr. Ese Kakor, hailed the ruling as a warning to bloggers and the public against baseless character defamation. He stressed that the NBM of Africa is a legal organization registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and urged adherence to the law.
