Nollywood actress, Halima Abubakar has been slammed with a N10 million fine for publishing libellous statements about the Senior Pastor and General Ov
Nollywood actress, Halima Abubakar has been slammed with a N10 million fine for publishing libellous statements about the Senior Pastor and General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries International, Apostle Johnson Suleman.
A Federal Capital Territory High Court ordered the actress to pay the amount to the cleric as damages.
According to a certified true copy of the judgement, Apostle Suleman accused the actress of publishing derogatory comments against him on her Instagram page, which were in turn published by several blogs and newspapers.
In his judgement, Justice Enobie Obanor noted that Abubakar was allowed to defend herself in the matter but failed to do so.
The judgement partly reads: “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 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.”
The court also barred Abubakar from any further publication on Apostle Suleman.
Over a year ago, Suleman, sued Abubakar for the sum of N1 billion naira for continuously defaming him.
It was the first time he would publicly react after it came to the fore in July 2022 after a popular Instagram blog made a post linking her alleged affair with the clergyman to the fibroid surgery she underwent.
Then the actress’ siblings called on the apostle via Instagram and asked him to stay away from her.
Among other things, the Apostle sought a declaration that her publication was defamatory. He also demanded that she tenders an unreserved apology and other monetary damages.
Failing the actress’ failure to meet his demands, the Apostle and his legal representatives started legal proceedings against her.
The preacher, through his legal representatives, Ephesus Lex Attorneys & Solicitors, brought Halima Abubakar before Justice. J. Enobie Obanor of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in the Abuja Judicial Division.
In the suit filed before a high court sitting in Abuja, Suleman demanded, among other things, the sum of one billion naira as damages.
“A declaration that the statements published by the defendant against the claimant on her Instagram handle @Halmabubakar, falsely and maliciously written and published to the general public, are defamatory of the person of the claimant,” it reads.
“An order directing the defendant to publish a retraction of her defamatory statements published on her Instagram handle @alimabubakar and on several online blogs and newspapers.
“Pay the sum of N1,000,000,000.00 (one billion naira 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 by the defendant in several newspapers and news blogs, including Gistlover at Gistlover.com.
“An order directing the defendant to pay the claimant the sum of 20,000,000.00 (twenty million naira) being legal fee paid to the counsels handing this suit.”
“As it stands, she has been served. Since we don’t know her address here in Abuja, we decided to send her the notice through the Daily Trust newspaper.
“Whether she comes to court or not is not our business. We have to prove our case, and the court will take it from there. What I do know is that she has been served,” he said.
