Court order Halima Abubakar: A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has ruled that actress Halima Abubakar must pay Apostle Johnson Suleman, the General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries International, N10 million in damages for defamation.
Abubakar faced charges for posting derogatory comments about the cleric on social media platforms. Justice Enobie Obanor, the presiding Judge, specified that the awarded sum would serve as general and aggravating damages for the actions of the actress, which tarnished the reputation of the cleric.
Furthermore, the court directed Abubakar to remove all defamatory posts against the cleric from her Instagram account, @Halimabubakar.
Apostle Suleiman initiated a defamation lawsuit with the case number FCT/HC/CV/3413/2022, prompting the court’s decision.
During the proceedings, the cleric informed the court that Abubakar had made numerous defamatory statements against him on her Instagram page, which were subsequently shared by various blogs and mainstream media outlets. He asserted that the defendant labeled him as a womanizer and a malevolent individual who preyed on women, among other accusations.
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 the allegations were not only false but also deliberately circulated to tarnish his public reputation.
Apostle Suleiman specifically demanded N1 billion in damages and an extra N20 million to cover legal expenses.
In the meantime, the actress was served with court documents, but she did not provide any legal representation.
Consequently, Justice Obanor stated in his verdict, delivered on March 27 and certified on April 8, that the defendant waived her right to self-defense as she had ample 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.
