The Delta State High Court in Effurun has ruled that Linda Ikeji must pay N30 million in general damages following a defamatory publication against Africa’s Neo-Black Movement (NBM).
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Reports from Monday, April 29, 2024, indicate that Justice Roli Daibo-Harriman, the presiding judge, also imposed N300,000 in litigation costs against the Nigerian blogger.
Additionally, the court has instructed Linda Ikeji to remove the defamatory publication from her blog.
Furthermore, as part of the court’s directives, Linda Ikeji, named as a Defendant in the EHC/210/2021 litigation, is prohibited from making any further detrimental publications against the Claimants or members of the NBM of Africa.
The claimants involved in the case include the Registered Trustees of NBM of Africa, Ese Kakor, Felix Kupa, and Mayor Onyebueke.
The legal action against Ikeji was initiated after she declined to comply with a demand letter requesting retraction and an apology for the libelous material published on her blog on October 19, 2021.
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In her publication on October 19, 2021, the blogger allegedly referred to NBM of Africa as a terrible cult group, black axe, criminal organization, and other titles.
“This will serve as a lesson to bloggers that it is not every item you publish. It is good to verify information before making a publication.
“NBM of Africa is a legal organization duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
“The publication made by the defendant against my client has been cleared that it was a damaging publication.
“NBM is good to go, we are going to take all necessary steps to enforce the terms of the judgment against her.
“It was an erudite judgment that is all-encompassing and will be difficult to fault,” Agbroko said.
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