Libel: Abike Dabiri wins again

A Federal Capital Territory Court sitting at Bwari, Abuja, Nigeria, has dismissed Frederick Odorige’s motion seeking to set aside the Court order dated July 10, 2023 consolidating the hearing of Hon. Abike Dabiri’s Preliminary Objection with the substantive suit.

The Court presided by Hon. Justice M.A. Madugu maintained that it has the requisite vires to consolidate hearing of the Preliminary Objection with the substantive suit in view of its own convenience and consequently dismissed Odorige’s application.

Diaspora Digital Media recalls that Frederick Odorige had instituted the suit against Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) on the 21st February, 2023.

He claimed N300Million for defamation to his character whereof Abike Dabiri Counter-claimed a sum of N2billion.

Odorige claimed that Abike Dabiri-Erewa’s tweet of 15th July, 2022 on her registered Twitter handle (now X) @abikedabiri portrayed him as a fraudster, by saying he was only collecting money from his paymasters, describing him as “an hungry man living in Hungary”, where Odoregie resides.

“How can I propose a budget for the Ministry of Health while NiDCOM capital budget is N160 million for the whole year. I will then propose N234 million in another ministry? Asked Dabiri-Erewa in her tweet then.

In her defence in Court, Dabiri-Erewa through her counsel, stated that her tweet was in response to Frederick Odorige’s tweet which implied that she is a thief and criminal misappropriating NiDCOM’s funds.

It is recalled that following Odorige’s said tweet of July 15, 2022, Sahara Reporters, an online newspaper, published a story titled “Alleged N235 million misappropriation: US-based Nigerian accused Diaspora Commission chairperson, Abike Dabiri Erewa of fraud, corruption.”

The said story elicited mixed reactions where some Nigerians called Abike Dabiri unprintable names.

The Plaintiff, Frederick Odorige has now been instructed by the Court to open and prove his case instead of wasting the Court’s time.

The matter has been adjourned for hearing on 26th November, 2024 for Odorige to call his witnesses.

Abike Dabiri:

Abike Dabiri-Erewa is a Nigerian politician, broadcast journalist, and former member of the Nigerian Federal House of Representatives.

She served as the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs and later as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora from 2016 to 2023.

Early Life and Education

Born on May 10, 1962, in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
Graduated from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) with a degree in English Language.

Career

Broadcast journalist at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA)
Member, Nigerian Federal House of Representatives (2003-2015)
Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora (2016-2023).

Awards and Recognition

Recipient of several awards for her contributions to journalism and public service.

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