ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- A United Kingdom court has ordered blogger Maureen Badejo to pay £100,000 in damages after losing a defamation lawsuit filed by the founder of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), Dr Daniel Olukoya, and his wife.
The judgment was delivered by the UK High Court of Justice, Queen’s Bench Division, which ruled that the statements Badejo published online about the Olukoyas were false and defamatory.
According to the court, Badejo was directed to pay £65,000 in damages to Dr Olukoya and £35,000 to his wife, bringing the total compensation to £100,000.
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In addition to the financial penalty, the court ordered the blogger to publicly retract the defamatory statements and publish a summary of the court’s judgment across her social media platforms.
The case, which progressed through the UK legal system, also went on appeal, but Badejo was unsuccessful, with the court affirming its earlier ruling.
The judgment underscores the legal consequences of making false allegations and reinforces the protection the law affords individuals against defamatory publications, particularly in the digital space.
According to legal observers, the ruling serves as a reminder that bloggers and social media users are subject to the same standards of accountability as traditional media practitioners.
The court further emphasised the importance of verifying facts and relying on credible evidence before making public claims that could damage reputations.