Court Orders Social Media Critic to Pay N5m for Defamation

Ebonyi High Court orders social media critic Chika Nwoba to pay N5 million to legal practitioner Ugadu Chinedu for defamation and issue public apology

A High Court sitting in Abakaliki has ordered Chika Nwoba, a social media critic, to pay N5 million in damages to Ugadu Chinedu, a legal practitioner, for allegedly defaming him on Facebook.

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The suit, marked HAB/75/2024, accused Nwoba of posting defamatory content against Chinedu between 2024 and 2025.

After reviewing evidence and exhibits, Justice Franklin Edem declared several of Nwoba’s Facebook posts as defamatory, specifically citing publications made on June 15, 2024; September 18, 2024; February 18, 2025; and July 17, 2025.

• The court ordered that Nwoba:
• Pay N5,000,000 as general and aggravated damages.
• Be restrained from making further defamatory publications against Chinedu on any media platform.

Publish a retraction and apology on his Facebook page for seven consecutive days, within 30 days from the date of judgment.

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The ruling underscores the judiciary’s commitment to upholding reputational rights and regulating online conduct in Nigeria.