WARRI – A Delta State High Court, Sitting in Warri, on Tuesday fixed May 13, 2022 for the commencement of hearing of a N1bn (one billion Naira) alleged libel suit brought against Linda Ikeji, a popular online blogger in Nigeria by the Registered Trustees of NBM of Africa & 3 others.
The three other Claimants’ in the suit are Olorogun (High Chief) Ese Kakor JP (the National President of the Organisation, 2nd claimant); Olorogun (Chief) Felix Kupa (3rd claimant) and Dr. Mayor Onyebueke (4th claimant).
The popular Nigerian Online Blogger is facing trial before Honourable Justice Roli Daibo-Harriman of Delta State High Court 2, Effurun, Warri in Suit No. EHC/210/2021 which borders on alleged defamatory and libelous online publication against the NBM of Africa, a renowned Pan-African Organisation that is committed to advocating for the rights of Africans Worldwide and sustainable development globally.
Upon resumption of the pre-trial hearing on Tuesday, National President of the Organisation, Olorogun (Chief)) Ese Kakor JP and the Claimants’ Counsel, Chief Kelvin Agbroko Esq, announced their appearances apparently in readiness to set the wheel of Justice in motion, the defendant and her lawyer were conspicuously absent in court.
Honourable Justice Daibo-Harriman, consequently adjourned the case to May 13, 2022 for the commencement of trial following a brief plea from the Claimants’ counsel, Chief Agbroko Esq, who urged the court to step down the pre-trial for the actual trial.
Recall that the Tuesday’s sitting is the third time the defendant and her legal representation would be absent from court having regard to the fact that the case was first mentioned on January 24, 2022 and then adjourned to, March 7, 2022 before this Tuesday’s sitting.
The Claimants’ are seeking from the court amongst others, a declaration that the online publications, blogs on Linda Ikeji’s blog made against them on October 19, 2019 is defamatory and libelous.
An order of the court directing the defendant to tender an apology to the Movement for the said publication on the defendant’s blog.
The Claimants’ claim also contains a demand for the sum of N1bn (one billion Naira) as damages from the blogger.
An order from the court restraining the defendant from further publishing the said libelous material and tendering of unreserved apology to be published by the defendant on her blog and two widely read national Newspapers in Nigeria.
Speaking to journalists at the court premises shortly after the adjournment, Agbroko, said: “Sometime on the 19th day of October, 2019, she (Linda Ikeji) made an online blog defaming the NBM of Africa and her members, calling the organisation and her members different names.
“Names that are not ascribed to the organisation. She referred to the organisation as ‘black axe’ whereas the organisation is not known as such. The organisation has nothing to do with ‘black axe’ and the name of the organization is NBM of Africa”, he posited.
He disclosed that his clients decided to seek redress in court following the expirations of different letters addressed to the defendant by the NBM of Africa, demanding a retraction of the false publication and an apology which according to him the popular blogger ignored/neglected even when several reminders were written.
He maintained that despite the fact that the blogger had been served with the statement of claims and other originating processes on February 1, 2022, the defendant had not show up in court nor been represented by a legal practitioner.
The NBM of Africa’s counsel, however remarked that the case would serve as an eye opener to other bloggers who do not verify their information before going on to post materials on-line.
