Court Awards N30.3 Million Damages Against Lagos Blogger, Linda Ikeji for Libelous Publication

A Delta State High Court sitting in Effurun has fined popular blogger, Linda Ikeji N30 million as damages for a libelous publication against the Neo Black Movement (NBM).

In a judgement delivered on Monday, Justice Roli Daibo-Harriman also awarded N300,000 against the Lagos based blogger as legal cost. Additionally, the court mandated Ikeji to publish a public apology on her blog and two national newspapers.

The NBM and three others had slammed a N1 billion law suit against Ikeji, for defamation of character and libel arising for a publication she made October 19, 2021.

The claimants, NBM, Ese Kakor, Felix Kupa and Mayor Onyebueke  told the court Ikeji on her blog called them dangerous and “dreaded cultists.” Thereby defaming them.

While delivering judgement, Justice Daibo-Harriman clearly described the words, “dreaded cultist group,” “black axe,” “criminal organisation” and others as used by the defendant in her publication as all defamatory.

Speaking to journalists the judgement, the lead counsel to the claimants, Kelvin Agbroko praised the court for delivering a good judgement.

He said, “this will serve as lesson to bloggers that it is not every item you published. It is good to verify information before making a publication

“NBM of Africa is a legal organisation duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

“The publication made by the defendant against my client has been cleared that is was a damaging publication.

“NBM is good to go, we are going to take all necessary steps to enforce the terms of the judgement against her.

“It was an erudite judgment that is all encompassing and will be difficult to fault.”

On his part, the President of NBM of Africa, Mr. Ese Kakor, “What Ikeji did was just to sell in a bid to defame the character of NBM of Africa, it is very wrong.

“I advised other blogger not to follow same steps as they may also face similar litigation.

“Do not try and defame people’s character. NBM has nothing to do with cultism, black axe. It is not a criminal organisation but a registered organisation.”