Rita Odafe
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A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has mandated that well-known actress Halima Abubakar pay Apostle Johnson Suleman, the General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries International, N10 million in damages.
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Abubakar was charged with posting disparaging remarks about the cleric on social media.
According to Justice Enobie Obanor, the presiding Judge, the money would be used as general and aggravating damages for the actress’s activities that damaged the cleric’s reputation.
In addition, the actress was ordered by the court to take down all of the derogatory postings she had made against the priest on her Instagram account, @Halimabubakar.
Apostle Suleiman filed a defamation lawsuit in court with the case number FCT/HC/CV/3413/2022, and the court rendered a decision in response.
The actress made many defamatory remarks against him on her Instagram page, which were then picked up by numerous blogs and mainstream media sites, the priest informed the court.
He informed the court that the defendant had called him a womaniser and a very evil man who preyed on women, among other things.
The cleric cited some of the derogatory posts that were made against him by the defendant, to include: “Shan, you said you don’t think I am smart? lol, ask Sule. At your big age am glad Gistlover sent that list. Thank you gistlover for calling me out. I for dey lie and lie for Sule? Never. God bless you gistlover. But your list is small for real. Johnson try me.
“Supporting you on your lies won’t work again. Anyone who involves his/her self will be tagged a bloodsucker. All of you supporting nonsense. No be Sule again, why do they bleed? They know the truth.
“Johnson Suleman wake up and untie her!! you must untie her. You owe her two kids you evil man… Not even how is your health for 4 years… my sister must survive O!
“PIs, don’t worry about me. But you can hold Johnson Suleman responsible just in case you can’t do anything though. Nigerians be aware, if anything happens Johnson it’s you.
“You told her to wait for you to find out why! Knowing well what you did. Giving you space is not possible. How many women have you done this to? you said it yourself that you can’t solve it! why can’t you solve it? Then you disappeared. Not a word since! With all the calls, Texts, etc. Sule, she believed you. Nigerians this man is dangerous and a hazard to society from ppl like this.”
He informed the court that all of the accusations were not only untrue but also purposefully released to harm his standing with the public.
Apostle Suleiman specifically asked for N1 billion in damages and an additional N20 million to pay for legal fees.
The actress was served with court procedures in the meantime, but no legal representation was provided for her.
As a result, Justice Obanor stated in his ruling, which was delivered on March 27 and certified on April 8, that the defendant forfeited her right to self-defense because she had plenty of time to do so.
As a result, he rendered a decision against the claimant.
“This issue is therefore resolved in favour of the claimant. Accordingly, judgment is entered in favour of the claimant as follows:
“A declaration that the statements published by the defendant against the Claimant on her Instagram handle @halimabubakar, falsely and maliciously written and published to the general public, are defamatory of the person of the claimant.
“The sum of N10,000,000.00 only to the Claimant as aggravated and exemplary damages for libel contained in the publication of the defendant against the claimant on her Instagram handle @Halimabubakar and caused to be published in several blogs.
“An order of this Honourable Court compelling the defendant to pay for the deleting of all links and reportage of the said defamatory comments on all platforms on the internet,” Justice Obano held.
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