ABUJA, Nigeria — A Federal Capital Territory High Court has mandated Nollywood actress Halima Abubakar to pay N10 million in damages to Johnson Suleman, the Senior Pastor and General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries International.
This judgment comes after Abubakar published derogatory comments about the cleric on her Instagram account.
According to the Certified True Copy of the judgment dated April 8, 2024, Apostle Suleman accused Abubakar of making libellous statements on her Instagram page, @halimabubakar.
These statements were subsequently picked up and published by multiple blogs and newspapers.
The cleric’s complaint highlighted accusations from Abubakar that portrayed him as a womanizer and diabolical, among other claims.
In a series of posts, Abubakar stated, “Shan, you said you don’t think I am smart? LOL, ask Sule. At your big age, I am glad Gistlover sent that list. Thank you, Gistlover, for calling me out. I for dey lie and lie for Sule? Never. God bless you, Gistlover. But your list is small for real. Johnson, try me.”
She continued, “Supporting you on your lies won’t work again. Anyone who involves his/her self will be tagged a bloodsucker. All of you supporting nonsense. No be Sule again, why do they bleed? They know the truth.”
Further intensifying her allegations, Abubakar added, “Johnson Suleman wake up and untie her!! you must untie her. You owe her two kids you evil man… Not even how is your health for 4 years… my sister must survive O!”
In another post, she warned, “PIs, don’t worry about me. But you can hold Johnson Suleman responsible just in case you can’t do anything though. Nigerians be aware, if anything happens Johnson you.”
“You told her to wait for you to find out why! Knowing well what you did. Giving you space is not possible. How many women have you done this to? you said it yourself that you can’t solve it! why can’t you solve it? Then you disappeared. Not a word since! With all the calls, Tex’s, etc. Sule, she believed you. Nigerians this man is dangerous and a hazard to society from ppl like this,” she concluded.
The cleric contended that these statements were falsely and maliciously written and published to the general public.
According to Justice Enobie Obanor, despite being given the opportunity to defend herself, Abubakar failed to do so.
In his judgment, Justice Obanor ruled, “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.”
He added, “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.”
The court also ordered Abubakar to publish a retraction of her defamatory statements on her Instagram handle @Halimabubakar.
Additionally, she must pay for the deletion of all links and reports of the defamatory comments across all online platforms.
