Olubunmi Abike Fadipe, a judge of the Lagos state high court, has ordered Canadian-based singer Stephanie Otobo to pay N100 million in damages to Johnson Suleman, founder of Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide, over defamation.
The legal battle between Otobo and the cleric began in 2017,
when she accused Suleman of having a sexual relationship with her.
She alleged that he got her pregnant and gave her a
concoction to terminate the pregnancy, and that he had promised to marry her.
Suleman denied all allegations and pursued legal action,
leading to Otobo’s arrest and arraignment.
She later retracted her claims, stating that she had been
“heavily paid” by powerful politicians and some pastors to blackmail him.
In 2022, Otobo again sparked controversy when she shared
racy pictures on social media, claiming they were meant for Suleman.
According to a court document dated May 5, 2026, Suleman
filed an injunction seeking to compel Otobo to retract her statements.
He also demanded N500 million in damages and a full-page
written apology to be published in two national dailies.
Court records show that Otobo was served with the summons in
November 2022 but failed to acknowledge it. She also did not appear in December
2023 for the decision on the commencement of the trial.
When the trial finally began in February 2025, the court
ruled that Suleman was entitled to damages for reputational harm. However, the
judge reduced the demand from N500 million to N100 million.
The court also ordered Otobo to issue a public apology, to
be published on a full page of two national newspapers for seven consecutive
days.
“I award the sum of N=100 million aggravated damages to the
claimant against the defendant,” the ruling stated.
“The claim succeeds, and judgment is entered for the
claimant against the defendant as follows:
“The sum of N= 100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million Naira) as
aggravated damages against the defendant.
“A full page unreserved apology to be published by the
defendant on the online platforms she utilized in publishing the defamatory
statements/words and to also be published on a full page in the Punch
newspapers and Sunday Sun newspapers for (7) seven consecutive times commencing
not later than 7 (days) after the judgment in this case.”
The judgment further restrained Otobo, her agents, and
privies from publishing any further defamatory statements about Suleman.
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