A High Court in the Federal Capital Territory has ruled that Nollywood actress Halima Abubakar must pay N10 million in damages to the General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleman, for posting derogatory comments against him.
The court also issued a restraining order, preventing her from making any further defamatory statements against the clergyman.
According to the certified true copy of the judgment dated April 8, 2024, Apostle Suleman accused Halima of posting libelous statements on her Instagram page @halimabubakar, which were then circulated by several blogs and newspapers.
The clergy specifically stated that the actress accused him of being a womanizer and diabolical, among other allegations.
However, the cleric asserted that Halima’s statement was falsely and maliciously written and published to the general public.
In his ruling, Justice Enobie Obanor noted that the 38-year-old thespian had the opportunity to defend herself in the case but failed to do so.
The judgment read,
“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.”
