Halima Abubakar was instructed by a Federal Capital Territory High Court to pay N10 million in damages to Apostle Suleman, for making derogatory remarks against him.
The court ruling also prohibits the actress from making any further defamatory statements against the cleric.
According to the Certified True Copy of the judgment dated April 8, 2024, Apostle Suleman accused Abubakar of publishing libellous comments on her Instagram page, which were subsequently picked up by various blogs and newspapers.
Specifically, the cleric alleged that Abubakar labeled him as a womanizer and diabolical, among other accusations.
In a statement on her Instagram handle @halimabubakar, Abubakar made remarks such as, “Shan, you said you don’t think I am smart? lol, ask Sule. At your big age 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.
“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.
“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!
“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.”
Apostle Suleman refuted these claims, stating that Halima Abubakar’s statements were both false and malicious.
Consequently, the court ruled in favor of Apostle Johnson Suleman and ordered Abubakar to pay N10,000,000.00 as aggravated and exemplary damages for the libel contained in her publications.
In the judgment, Justice Enobie Obanor highlighted that Abubakar had the opportunity to defend herself 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.”
Halima Abubakar was also ordered to publish a retraction of her defamatory statements on her Instagram handle and delete all links and reports of the defamatory comments across internet platforms.
“An order of this Honourable Court compelling the defendant to pay for the deleting of all links and reportage of the said defamatory comments on all platforms on the internet”, the judge added.
KanyiDaily recalls that Halima Abubakar has been dragging Apostle Suleman on social media since 2022 when she accused him of having an extramarital relationship with her which got her bedridden for months.
Reacting to her several allegations, Apostle Suleman filed a lawsuit against Halima Abubakar for defamation of his character and demanded N1 billion as aggravated and exemplary damages for libel.
Nigerian singer, Mayorkun has spoken out against allegations made by social media influencer, Nicki Dabarbie,…
France has declared a state of emergency in New Caledonia and has sent police and…
Nigerian musician Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has been released from police custody in…
Nigerian singer, Portable is currently being detained in police custody after failing to meet his…
Nigerian superstar, Burna Boy has teamed up with South African artists TitoM, Yuppe, and S.N.E…
Big Brother Naija reality star, Phyna has revealed why she lost respect for Afrobeats superstar,…