A Delta State High Court in Effurun has ruled in favor of the Registered Trustees of the Neo-Black Movement of Africa, awarding them N30 million in damages in a libel case against popular Nigerian blogger, Linda Ikeji.

The lawsuit, with Ese Kakor, Felix Kupa, and Mayor Onyebueke as claimants, resulted in the court ordering Ikeji to pay N300,000 in litigation costs.

Presiding Justice Roli Daibo-Harriman delivered the verdict in Suit No: EHC/210/2021 on Monday.

Additionally, Ikeji was instructed to publish a retraction of the libellous statements on her blog and in national dailies.

Furthermore, Ikeji has been restrained from making further damaging publications against the claimants.

The Neo-Black Movement of Africa (NBM) took the legal action against Linda Ikeji after she allegedly failed to retract and apologize for a defamatory article published on her blog on October 19, 2021.

The article reportedly labeled the NBM of Africa as a dreaded cult group, black axe, and criminal organization, prompting the claimants to seek N1 billion in damages and an unreserved apology to be published on Ikeji’s blog and in two national newspapers.

Justice Daibo-Harriman, in her ruling, deemed the terms “dreaded cultist group,” “black axe,” and “criminal organization” used in the Defendant’s publication as defamatory.

Kelvin Agbroko, Counsel to the Claimants, emphasized that the ruling “Will serve as a lesson to bloggers that it is not every item you publish. It is good to verify information before making a publication.”

He said, “NBM of Africa is a legal organisation duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission. The publication made by the Defendant against my client has been cleared that it was a damaging publication.

“NBM is good to go, we are going to take all necessary steps to enforce the terms of the judgment against her. It was an erudite judgement that is all-encompassing and will be difficult to fault.”

Ese Kakor, President of the NBM of Africa, revealed that the legal proceedings regarding the case had been ongoing for approximately two years.

Kakor expressed his dismay at Linda Ikeji’s actions, stating, “What Ikeji did was just to sell in a bid to defame the character of NBM of Africa. It is very wrong.”

He advised other bloggers against following similar steps, cautioning that they may also face litigation for defamation.

Kakor clarified that the NBM of Africa has no association with cultism, black axe, or criminal activities, emphasizing that it is a well-registered organization.

In a shocking turn of events, Gihan Mbelu, the esteemed chairman of Victoria Garden City in Lagos’s bustling Lekki area, was found lifeless inside his vehicle.

His sudden demise has prompts police inquiry into the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death.

The 42-year-old financial luminary and venture capitalist was found unconscious in his opulent C300 4Matic vehicle around 10:10 am on Friday, April 26, 2024.

According to report, Mbelu was swiftly transported to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, where a doctor on duty confirmed his unfortunate demise.

Meanwhile, concerned individuals took it upon themselves to examine his vehicle, which had been running for hours at the spot where it was parked.

The post reads “Concerned by the discovery, some of the people in the area, upon close observation of the vehicle, found Mbelu in it.

“While some people speculated that the 42-year-old man might be sleeping, some other persons, who were bent on ascertaining Mbelu’s true state, reportedly made frantic efforts to wake him up but it proved abortive.

“In a bid to rescue Mbelu, it was learnt that he was rushed to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital where he was reportedly confirmed dead by one of the doctors on duty.

“Mbelu’s corpse was said to have been deposited in the hospital’s morgue. The case was also reported to the police for an investigation to commence to ascertain the circumstances surrounding Mbelu’s death.”

Prior to his demise, Mbelu was married to Eloho, a distinguished tech entrepreneur, former investment banker, and private equity investor. Together, they are parents to two daughters.

In response to the news, Benjamin Hundeyin, the spokesperson for the state police command, affirmed the incident on Saturday, April 27, disclosing that an investigation has been launched into the matter.

In the aftermath of the escape from its Suleija facility in Niger State, the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has disclosed the successful recapture of three escaped inmates.

Despite these efforts, 106 inmates are still on the run.

Abubakar Umar, an Assistant Controller and spokesperson for the NCoS, dismissed rumors circulating online suggesting that 50 inmates had been apprehended, clarifying that only three had been recaptured.

He said “Aside from the 10 earlier recaptured, three more have been recaptured. So, we are on the chase of 106.”

He further dismissed reports from television sources alleging over 8,000 escaping inmates nationwide.

He clarified that following heavy rainfall damaging parts of the Suleija facility, at least 119 inmates had escaped.

During a visit to the facility, Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, underscored the urgency of relocating the correctional center from its current urban location.

He noted that the facility, originally designed for 250 inmates, was accommodating 499 individuals prior to the incident.

He said; ”Obviously, it was a force majeure. There was a storm and there was a breach of the outer wall of this facility and some of the inmates escaped.

“Of course, we have been able to retrieve about 10 out of the 119. So we have 109 at large and the manhunt is presently ongoing. We will do everything possible to make sure that everyone is brought back”.

Additionally, the Service (NCoS) announced its intention to publish the identities of the escapees at a later time.