The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has ordered Nollywood actress Halima Abubakar to pay N10 million in damages for defaming Apostle Johnson Suleman of Omega Fire Ministries International.
The case between Halima Abubakar and Apostle Johnson Suleman has its roots in a series of allegations made by the actress in 2022. Over several months, Ms. Abubakar accused the cleric of failing to fulfill a promise to marry her and alleged that he had caused her a life-threatening ailment.
These accusations were shared across various social media platforms, leading to widespread public attention.
In response to these allegations, Apostle Suleman filed a N1 billion lawsuit for defamation against Ms. Abubakar in January 2023. The case, marked FCT/HC/CV/3413/2022, began on March 25, 2023, under the jurisdiction of Justice Enobie Obanor of the Abuja High Court.
Despite being given multiple opportunities to present her defense, she failed to do so, resulting in the court ruling in favour of Apostle Suleman.
The court’s judgment included a fine of N10 million against her for aggravated and exemplary damages for libel. Libel is a legal term that refers to the making of false and malicious statements about a person in some type of print or writing.
Additionally, she was ordered to retract her defamatory statements on her Instagram handle and to remove all related content from various internet platforms.
The controversy intensified when Ms. Abubakar, who had been battling an undisclosed ailment for years, announced her departure from Nollywood in October 2022.
This announcement came amidst the legal dispute and cease and desist notice issued by Mr. Suleman’s legal team.
Halima is a Nigerian Nollywood actress. She is known for her roles in Nollywood films and won the Afro Hollywood Best Actress award in 2011.
Apostle Johnson Suleman is a Nigerian televangelist and the founder of Omega Fire Ministries International, which he started in 2004. Apostle Suleman is known for his philanthropic work and his teachings.
