Delta State High Court Orders Linda Ikeji to Pay N30 Million in Damages for Libellous Publication against NBM of Africa
In a significant legal development, the Delta State High Court in Effurun has ruled against popular Nigerian blogger, Linda Ikeji, ordering her to pay N30 million in damages for a libellous publication against the Neo-Black Movement of Africa (NBM).
The lawsuit, brought by the Registered Trustees of NBM of Africa along with individuals Ese Kakor, Felix Kupa, and Mayor Onyebueke as claimants, saw Presiding Justice Roli Daibo-Harriman deliver the verdict on Monday in Suit No: EHC/210/2021.
In addition to the N30 million in damages, Justice Daibo-Harriman directed Ikeji to pay N300,000 as litigation costs. Ikeji was further mandated to publish a retraction of the defamatory publication on her blog and in national newspapers, and she is restrained from further damaging publications against the claimants.
The lawsuit stemmed from a publication on Ikeji’s blog on October 19, 2021, where she allegedly labelled the NBM of Africa as a dreaded cult group, black axe, and criminal organization, among other derogatory terms. Despite a demand letter from the claimants requesting a retraction and apology, Ikeji reportedly failed to comply, prompting legal action.
Justice Daibo-Harriman denounced the tags used in Ikeji’s publication as defamatory and upheld the claimants’ case, emphasizing the damaging nature of the publication.
Kelvin Agbroko, counsel to the claimants, hailed the ruling as a lesson for bloggers, emphasizing the importance of verifying information before publication. He affirmed the legality of the NBM of Africa and vowed to enforce the judgment against Ikeji.
President of the NBM of Africa, Ese Kakor, expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, cautioning against defamatory actions and underscoring the organization’s legitimacy.
The outcome of the case sends a clear message about the consequences of irresponsible journalism and highlights the importance of upholding journalistic ethics and standards.
