By Mick Oseji, Asaba
A Delta State High Court sitting in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area, has ordered the proprietor of Pararan Mock News, Diamond Dietanuru Osakorigho, popularly known as Pararan, to pay N50 million in damages to Apostle Michael Akpor over a defamatory Facebook publication.
The court, presided over by Justice R.D. Harriman, also directed Osakorigho to publish an unreserved apology to the cleric in Vanguard and The Nation newspapers within 14 days.
It further ruled that the apology must receive the same prominence and circulation as the original publication.
The judgment, delivered on November 6, 2026, in Suit No. EHC/91/2023, also restrained Osakorigho, his agents, servants, privies and anyone acting on his behalf from publishing or circulating further defamatory, injurious or libellous statements, videos or other materials against Akpor.
In addition, the court awarded N1 million as costs of the suit.
The legal action stemmed from a Facebook post published on July 20, 2022, with the caption, “Warri Pastor Kpuf 2Keke Passenger,” which the court found to be false and defamatory.
Reacting to the judgment, counsel to Akpor, human rights activist Austin Nyekigbe, described the ruling as a landmark reminder of the need for responsible conduct on social media.
He stressed that the freedom to express opinions and share information online did not give anyone the licence to spread false or damaging claims about others.
“People must learn to verify information before rushing to publish it, particularly on social media. An injustice to one is an injustice to all,” Nyekigbe said.
Also speaking, Warri-based lawyer Mrs Eloho Avwaruroro-Okoye, who witnessed the proceedings, said the judgment reinforced the legal consequences of irresponsible online publications.
She noted that freedom of expression came with corresponding responsibilities, warning that individuals who publish false and damaging information must be ready to face the consequences under the law.
Avwaruroro-Okoye congratulated Akpor on his legal victory and commended Nyekigbe for his diligence in handling the case.
The dispute arose against the backdrop of allegations linking Akpor and two police officers attached to him to the July 12, 2022 killing of two persons in Ugbolokposo community, Effurun.
However, Nyekigbe said subsequent police investigations cleared his client and the two officers, identified as ASP Mesoro Victor and Inspector Ignatius Achazie, of involvement in the incident.
According to the lawyer, the investigation involved witness statements, vehicle identification exercises and a review of CCTV footage from the church, all of which contradicted the allegations against the cleric.
He said the police investigation report established that Akpor was inside his church when the killings occurred, concluding that he was “going on with his religious business in the Church”.
Despite the outcome of the investigation, Nyekigbe expressed sympathy with the families of the victims.
The judgment serves as another reminder that social media users, bloggers and online publishers are not above the law and can be held legally accountable for publications that damage the reputation of others.
