A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has admitted eight exhibits presented by Premiere Academy, Abuja in its N500 million defamation suit against gender activist Lemmy Ughegbe.

The exhibits were accepted by Justice Kayode Agunloye at the Kwali division when tendered by the Academy’s counsel, Barrister Olajide Kumuyi.

Premiere Academy, located in the Lugbe area of Abuja, is suing Ughegbe for N500 million as compensation for reputational damage caused by his alleged defamation.

The school, through its counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, is seeking a court order to prevent Ughegbe from continuing to make defamatory statements regarding the death of a female student, Miss Keren-Happuch, who allegedly died as a result of rape on the school’s premises.

The Academy claims that Ughegbe falsely accused the institution of being responsible for the 14-year-old student’s death due to rape, an infection caused by a condom left inside her, and resulting medical complications.

The school has consistently denied these allegations, which it says have damaged its reputation.

At the court proceedings, Barrister Kumuyi, along with the school’s principal, Mr. Christopher Akinsowon, presented eight pieces of evidence to support the Academy’s case.

Among the exhibits was a flash drive containing a video clip of Ughegbe’s speech at the 2021 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja, where the defamatory statements were allegedly made.

Additional exhibits included school admission registers showing a decline in student enrollment due to the defamation, with just 59 new applicants in 2022, compared to previous years.

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Also presented were online publications from Daily Independent and The Sun newspapers from September 2, 2021, in which Ughegbe allegedly spread defamatory claims about the Academy.

A letter from Awomolo SAN Law Firm warning Ughegbe about the defamation and his reply through his lawyer, Johnbull Adaghe, were also included as evidence.

In response, the defendant’s counsel raised objections to the admission of the documents, arguing that some were not included in the school’s witness statement and were not properly front-loaded.

However, Barrister Kumuyi countered these objections, referencing specific paragraphs in the witness statement where the documents were mentioned.

Justice Agunloye ruled in favor of the plaintiff and admitted the exhibits.

The court has scheduled March 18 for the video footage to be played in open court, showing Ughegbe allegedly making the defamatory remarks at the NBA Law Week.

The case was adjourned for the cross-examination of the witness by the defendant’s counsel.

Premiere Academy is seeking N500 million in damages from Ughegbe, claiming defamation related to his statements on the death of Keren-Happuch.

Ughegbe, in response, has stated he will not be silenced by the school’s legal actions and has filed his defense, which he plans to present in court.

Crediblenewsng.com