Nigerians Help Raise Legal Fees For Journalist Facing Apostle Suleman In Court

Nigerians are said to be funding legal bills for a London-based blogger, Maureen Badejo, to defend herself in court against Apostle Johnson Suleman, the General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries.

The blogger was asked to appear before the Queens Bench Division of the UK High Court of Justice over alleged defamation of Apostle Johnson Suleman’s character.

On March 10th, 2022, the blogger was summoned to appear in court.

The Court order reads, “This is an Injunction, with other orders as set out below, made against the Defendant on 10 March 2022 by the Judge identified above (the Judge) on the application (the Application) of the Claimant. The Judge: (a) read the witness statements referred to in Schedule A at the end of this Order:

“Accepted the undertakings set out in Schedule B at the end of this Order and considered the provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA), section 12.

“Until the trial of this claim or further Order of the Court, the Defendant must not by herself, her employees, servants or agents or otherwise publish or further publish the following words defamatory of the Claimant namely (i) “Suleman call himself a minister of God, but these are cultists, hitmen (ii) “Suleman, you see I can’t call you an apostle because I know that you are not. The spirit of God is not in you” (iii) “Go and address your spiritual father that is sleeping around like dog (iv)”dey sleep with, mama sleep with pikin… the one wey hin prick no fit hold one place” (spoken in broken/pidgin English with the true and literal translation being “sleeps with mother, sleeps with child….this person that cannot keep his penis in one place” or words to the same or similar effect until the trial of this claim or further.”

However, as of midday on Tuesday, the GIOTV anchor had received the sum of 11,012 pounds from 217 donors after requesting help from her viewers, friends, and loved ones to help her financially with her legal bills.

The donations were raised through Gofundme with the subject “Help With Maureen Urgent Legal Cost” with a target of raising £50,000.