Court slams N10m fine on actress Halima Abubakar for defaming Apostle Suleman

Nollywood actress Halima Abubakar has been fined N10 million for posting defamatory statements about Apostle Johnson Suleman, the Senior Pastor of Omega Fire Ministries International.

The Federal Capital Territory High Court issued the order for Halima Abubakar to pay damages to the cleric for her actions.

Despite being given the opportunity to defend herself, Abubakar failed to do so, leading to the judgement by Justice Enobie Obanor.

The actress had made derogatory comments about Apostle Suleman on her Instagram page, which were subsequently picked up by various blogs and newspapers.

The judgement partly reads: “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 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.”

The court also barred Abubakar from any further publication on Apostle Suleman.