High Court Reserves-Judgment In N500 Million Libel-Suit By Geoffrey Onyeama Against Lilian Onoh (Details)

High Court Reserves-Judgment In N500 Million Libel-Suit By Geoffrey Onyeama Against Lilian Onoh (Details)

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has reserved judgment in a N500 million libel suit filed by former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, against career ambassador Lilian Onoh. The court will also deliver a verdict on a counter-claim by Onoh, seeking N2 billion in compensation from Onyeama.

Justice Keziah Ogbonnaya, after hearing the final arguments from both parties, announced that the judgment date would be communicated to them.

Onyeama accused Onoh, who is also his former sister-in-law, of defaming him in several memos sent to then-President Muhammadu Buhari. He demanded N500 million in damages and a public apology from Onoh and two other defendants—Akelicious Media Company and Newswire Law & Event Magazine—for their allegedly defamatory publications.

In her counterclaim, Onoh requested N2 billion in compensation, accusing Onyeama of causing her emotional trauma through what she described as a “malicious suit.” She attributed the lawsuit to a long-standing vendetta stemming from Onyeama’s divorce from her sister.

During the proceedings, Onyeama’s lawyer, Agada Elachi, SAN, argued that his client had provided sufficient evidence to support his defamation claims and urged the court to grant the requested damages and a public apology from the defendants.

Conversely, Onoh’s lawyer, J.O. Okpor, argued that Onyeama failed to prove any defamatory statements made by his client and criticized the legal process, claiming that the service of court documents was improperly conducted and that the case lacked legal merit.

The other defendants in the case did not have legal representation during the hearing. After considering the arguments, Justice Ogbonnaya adjourned the case, stating that the date for the judgment would be announced later.