In 2017, Ms. Linda Ikeji, a Nigerian renowned blogger published on her popular news blogs and her other social media pages a false, malicious and defamatory article against Mrs. Ajibola Ajayi. The post had quoted Mrs. Ajibola Ajayi to have purportedly described the protesting students of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, as “a generation of mannerless children”.
In 2018, Mrs. Ajibola Ajayi brought up an action in court against Ms. Linda Ikeji for libel, false and malicious post, and defamation against her person.
On Tuesday, April 12, 2022, the court gave judgment in the claimant’s Favour and held that the publication made by Ms. Linda Ikeji in her news blogs and her other social media pages is false, malicious, libelous, and defamatory against the person of Mrs. Ajibola Ajayi.
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The Court further held that the publication which was made available to readers worldwide had exposed the Claimant to ridicule and subjected her to attacks and unnecessary criticism by members of the public who read the offending article.
The Court awarded general and exemplary damages in the sum of N25,000,000.00 (Twenty-Five Million Naira) against Ms. Linda Ikeji and directed Ms. Ikeji to publish a written apology to the Claimant in three National tabloids.
It is pertinent to state here that it is the trite principle of law that libel is actionable per se. This case will go further to show netizens that actions have consequences. You can not just make a false or malicious post or make up some lies against another person and post on your blogs or your social media pages in the name of “cruise” or to drive traffic to your page. If you do so and the person takes a legal step against you, you will be liable for libel and you will pay for the damages.
