Cross River Court Awards N10m Damages Against PDP Ward Chairman for Libeling National Woman Leader

By Judex Okoro

The High Court sitting in Calabar has awarded N10m as damages against one Onawu Onor Alobi, the Olulumo ward chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),Ikom chapter, for libeling Amina Divine Arong, Amina Divine Arong, the claimant, now PDP National Woman Leader, had in a SUIT NO. HC/135/2022 sued Onawu Onor Alobi , the defendant, for writing a letter dated 22/10/2021 and undated letter to PDP Screening Committee Appeal Panel against her person, claiming that such letters were malicious, libelous and defamatory in all ramifications.

Amina Arong through her counsel, E. L.Mbotor, among others, sought for damages for libel including exemplary and special damages in the sum of N200m only and N3m as cost of action.

 The claimant further sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant whether by himself, his servants, his agents or otherwise from publishing or causing to be published the said similar words of the claimant anywhere.

The claimant also sought an order compelling the defendant to publish or cause to publish a retraction of the libelous and defamatory letters dated 22/10/2021addresed to Ms. Amina, Appeal Panel and an apology letters to Amina, PDP Olulumo ward Ikom, Ikom PDP chapter, PDP Cross River state and PDP National, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.

In a judgment obtained by THE BEAGLE NEWS and dated October 12, 2023 delivered by Justice Edem Ita Kooffreh, the Court ordered that N10m be paid to Ms. Amina Divine Arong by Onawu Onor Alobi, as damages for libel and N500,000 as cost of action.

The Court declared that the content of the letter dated 22/10/2021 and the letter to PDP Screening Committee Appeal Panel against the claimant (Amina) constitute malicious, libelous and defamatory publications of the claimant's character.

The Court further ordered a perpetual injunction restraining the defendant from publishing or causing to be published the said similar words of the claimant anywhere.

Again, the Court ordered the defendant to publish or cause to publish a retraction of the libelous and defamatory letters to the claimant and the chairman, PDP Screening Committee Appeal Panel and apology letters to the claimant, PDP Olulumo ward Ikom, Ikom PDP chapter, PDP Cross River state and PDP National, Wadata Plaza, Abuja were the defamatory letters sent to and a publication in one national daily newspaper.

Ms Amina Arong is an accountant, a politician, a former National Auditor of PDP and currently National Woman Leader of PDP