Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa has won a significant legal round in the ongoing defamation suit brought against her by Frederick Odorige. The Federal Capital Territory Court in Bwari, Abuja, dismissed Odorige’s application to overturn a July 10, 2023, order that consolidated Dabiri’s preliminary objection with the substantive suit. Presiding over the case, Justice M.A. Madugu ruled that the court had the authority to combine both hearings for efficiency and dismissed Odorige’s motion.
The defamation battle began when Odorige filed a suit on February 21, 2023, claiming N300 million in damages from Dabiri-Erewa, who is the Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM). He alleged that Dabiri defamed his character through a tweet on July 15, 2022, from her official Twitter account (now X) @abikedabiri. In the tweet, Dabiri referred to Odorige, who resides in Hungary, as “a hungry man living in Hungary” and accused him of working for “paymasters” while labelling him a fraudster.
Dabiri-Erewa, however, fired back with a counterclaim of N2 billion, insisting that her tweet was a response to Odorige’s earlier online accusations, in which he suggested that she was involved in the misappropriation of NiDCOM’s funds. The tweet stirred significant public controversy, further inflamed by an article published by Sahara Reporters, which alleged financial misconduct on Dabiri’s part.
The court, having dismissed Odorige’s attempt to stall the consolidated hearing, instructed him to proceed with proving his case. The matter has been adjourned to November 26, 2024, where Odorige is expected to present witnesses to substantiate his claims.
Abike Dabiri, a seasoned politician and former journalist, remains steadfast in her defense, asserting that her remarks were justified responses to unsubstantiated claims. The case continues to draw significant attention, as both parties prepare for the next phase of the legal proceedings.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
