A recent ruling by the Delta State High Court in Effurun has ordered prominent Nigerian blogger Linda Ikeji to pay a hefty sum of N30 million in damages over a libelous publication directed at the Neo Black Movement (NBM) of Africa.
The presiding judge, Justice Roli Daibo-Harriman, also levied an additional N300,000 as litigation costs against Ikeji.
The lawsuit, initiated by the Registered Trustees of NBM of Africa along with individuals Ese Kakor, Felix Kupa, and Mayor Onyebueke, stemmed from a publication on Ikeji’s blog dated October 19, 2021.
In the article, Ikeji allegedly referred to the NBM of Africa using derogatory terms such as “dreaded cult group,” “black axe,” and “criminal organization.”
Justice Daibo-Harriman unequivocally deemed Ikeji’s words defamatory and ordered her to retract the publication both on her blog and in national newspapers. She was also restrained from making further damaging publications against the NBM of Africa and its members.
Lead counsel for the Claimants, Mr. Kelvin Agbroko, hailed the court’s decision as an important lesson for bloggers, emphasizing the importance of verifying information before publication.
He reiterated that the NBM of Africa is a legally recognized organization registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission.
President of the NBM of Africa, Mr. Ese Kakor, expressed satisfaction with the ruling, emphasizing that it serves as a warning against baseless character defamation.
Kakor urged the public to adhere to the law and avoid tarnishing individuals or organizations’ reputations without merit.
