Judiciary
Court Orders Blogger Linda Ikeji to Pay N30 Million in Damages for Defamation and Libel
By Iyojo Ameh
The Delta High Court in Effurun has ruled against renowned blogger Linda Ikeji, ordering her to pay N30 million in general damages to the Neo Black Movement (NBM) of Africa for publishing defamatory content.
The lawsuit, filed by the Registered Trustees of NBM of Africa, Ese Kakor, Felix Kupa, and Mayor Onyebueke, accused Ikeji of defamation and libel.
In her judgment, Justice Roli Daibo-Harriman condemned the terms such as “dreaded cultist group,” “black axe,” and “criminal organization” used by Ikeji in her publication of October 19, 2021, as defamatory.
Furthermore, the court instructed Ikeji to refrain from making further damaging publications against the claimants and members of the NBM of Africa.
Responding to the judgment, Mr. Kelvin Agbroko, lead counsel to the claimants, emphasized the importance of verifying information before publication, stressing that the NBM of Africa is a legally registered organization with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
President of NBM of Africa, Mr. Ese Kakor, hailed the judgment as a warning to bloggers and the public against tarnishing the reputation of individuals or organizations unjustly. Kakor clarified that the NBM of Africa is not associated with cultism or criminal activities and urged adherence to the law.
Addressing newsmen shortly after the court’s proceedings, lead counsel to the claimants, Mr Kelvin Agbroko said that it was a well deserved judgment.
“This will serve as lesson to bloggers that it is not every item you published. It is good to verify information before making a publication.
“NBM of Africa is a legal organisation duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
“The publication made by the defendant against my client has been cleared that is was a damaging publication.
“NBM is good to go, we are going to take all necessary steps to enforce the terms of the judgement against her.
“It was an erudite judgment that is all encompassing and will be difficult to fault,” Agbroko said.
Also responding to the judgement the President of NBM of Africa, Mr Ese Kakor said that the case had been on for about two years.
He said that the judgment was a warning to bloggers and other members of the public not to call people or organisations names that were not ascribed to them in a bid to blackmail or defamed their characters.
“What Ikeji did was just to sell in a bid to defame the character of NBM of Africa, it is very wrong.
“I advised other blogger not to follow same steps as they may also face similar litigation.
“Do not try and defame people’s character. NBM has nothing to do with cultism, black axe. It is not a criminal organisation but a registered organisation,” he said.
Kakor, however, advised the public to be law abiding and do things within the ambits of the law.