Nollywood actress Halima Abubakar has been fined N10 million by a Federal Capital Territory High Court for defaming Apostle Johnson Suleman, the Senior Pastor of Omega Fire Ministries International. The court also issued a restraining order preventing her from making any more defamatory statements about the cleric.
The judge further mandated Abubakar to post a retraction of her defamatory remarks on her Instagram account @Halimabubakar.
The cleric alleged that Abubakar had made libelous accusations against him, including labeling him as a womanizer and diabolical, among other things, on her Instagram page @halimabubakar, with subsequent coverage by various blogs and newspapers.
According to Halima on her Instagram handle,
“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.”
Court fines actress, Halima Abubakar N10m for defaming Apostle Suleman
8th April 2024
Halima Abubakar and Apostle Suleman
Halima Abubakar and Apostle SulemanBy
Solomon Odeniyi
A Federal Capital Territory High Court has ordered Nollywood actress, Halima Abubakar, to pay N10m as damages to the Senior Pastor and General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries International, Apostle Johnson Suleman, for publishing derogatory comments against him.The court also restrained her from further publishing defamatory statements against the cleric.
According to the Certified True Copy of the judgment dated April 8, 2024, the cleric accused Abubakar of publishing libellous statements on her Instagram page @halimabubakar, which was published by several blogs and newspapers.
The cleric specifically said Abubakar accused him of being a womaniser and diabolical, among others.
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According to the process, Abubakar said, “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.”
Halima Abubakar
“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.”
The cleric disputed Abubakar’s statement on her Instagram account, calling it false and malicious when published to the public.
Justice Enobie Obanor, in his ruling, noted that Abubakar had the opportunity to defend herself but did not. The judgment stated that the claimant’s position was upheld, leading to a declaration that the statements on @halimabubakar’s Instagram handle were defamatory. The judgment awarded the claimant N10,000,000 as aggravated and exemplary damages for the libelous publication.
