The court’s ruling came after Otse made a series of posts on September 24, 2024, accusing the Falanas of being linked to a bribery scandal involving controversial cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, along with officials from the EFCC and Nigerian Correctional Service.
Justice Idowu declared the statements “defamatory and harmful” to the reputations of Falana and his son.
The court observed that the defendant was aware that the allegations were false but published them with the intent of damaging their reputation. Falana and his son, Falz, argued that the claims were baseless and intended to harm their image.
Dawodu, representing the applicants, highlighted that the defamatory statements remained online, further harming their reputations.
The ruling underscored the importance of quickly removing defamatory content to prevent continued damage, marking a significant step in Nigeria’s battle against online defamation.
