A Delta State High Court sitting in Effurun has awarded N30 million as general damage against Linda Ikeji over her libelous publication against the Neo-Black Movement of Africa.
According to the VANGUARD, the presiding judge, Justice Roli Daibo-Harriman, in her rulings on Monday, also awarded a sum of N300,000 as the cost of litigations against the Nigerian blogger.
The court also ordered Ikeji to place a publication in her blog and national dailies, retracting the libelous publication complained about.
Furthermore, Ikeji, a Defendant in lawsuit number EHC/210/2021, was also ordered to refrain from making further damaging publications against the Claimants and members of the NBM of Africa.
The lawsuit had the Registered Trustees of NBM of Africa, Ese Kakor, Felix Kupa, and Mayor Onyebueke, as the Claimants.
The NBM of Africa and three others dragged Ikeji before the court after she failed to honor the demand letter of retraction and apology for the defamatory article published in her blog on Oct. 19, 2021.
The blogger, in her publication of Oct. 19, 2021, allegedly referred to NBM of Africa as a dreaded cult group, black axe, criminal organization, and other names.
Consequently, the claimants prayed to the court for only an award of N1 billion and an unreserved apology to be published in her blog and two national newspapers.
In her rulings, Justice Daibo-Harriman clearly described the words dreaded cultist group, black axe, criminal organization, and others as used by the defendant in her libelous publication as all defamatory.
Addressing newsmen shortly after the court proceedings, the lead counsel to the Claimants, Mr. Kelvin Agbroko, said it was a well-deserved judgment.
