The High Court of Lagos State, sitting in the Ikeja Judicial Division, has ordered Stephanie Otobo to pay the sum of N100 million in aggravated damages to the General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleman, over defamatory publications.
In a judgment delivered by the presiding judge, Hon. Justice O. O. Abike-Fadipe, the court ruled that the claimant was entitled to aggravated damages due to the injury inflicted on his reputation.
The judge noted that the defendant engaged in a persistent and malicious campaign against the cleric’s credibility despite a previous public apology made to him and his wife.
The claimant had initially sought N500 million, along with a demand for a full-page unreserved apology to be published across various platforms.
While Justice Abike-Fadipe acknowledged the severity of the damage, the court held that the initial N500 million demand was excessive and punitive rather than compensatory, subsequently reducing the award to N100 million.
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Aside from the monetary compensation, the court ordered Otobo to publish a full-page unreserved apology on the online platforms she previously utilised to spread the defamatory statements.
Furthermore, the apology must be published on a full page in The Punch and Sunday Sun newspapers for seven consecutive times, commencing no later than seven days after the judgment.
The court also granted a perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, her agents, privies, or servants from further publishing the same or similar defamatory words against the claimant.
Documents revealed that despite being served with the originating processes via DHL and receiving several hearing notices, Otobo failed to file a response or attend the court proceedings.