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'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
DAILY COURIER – A Federal Capital Territory Court sitting in Bwari, Abuja in a legal battle that has garnered significant public attention has dismissed an application by Frederick Odorige, a plaintiff in a defamation lawsuit against Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM). The Court, presided over by Justice M.A. Madugu, ruled against Odorige’s motion to set aside an earlier court order dated July 10, 2023, which consolidated the hearing of Dabiri-Erewa's preliminary objection with the substantive suit.
The court ruled that it had the necessary jurisdiction to consolidate the two hearings in the interest of judicial convenience and efficiency, and subsequently dismissed Odorige’s application. The ruling represents another victory for Dabiri-Erewa in an ongoing legal dispute that began earlier this year.
The case originated on February 21, 2023, when Odorige filed a defamation lawsuit against Dabiri-Erewa and NiDCOM, seeking N300 million in damages. Odorige's complaint stemmed from a tweet by Dabiri-Erewa, posted on July 15, 2022, on her official Twitter handle (now known as X) @abikedabiri, in which she described Odorige as "a hungry man living in Hungary." Odorige claims the tweet falsely portrayed him as a fraudster working at the behest of certain individuals to tarnish her reputation. He argues that the statement damaged his character and reputation, and sought compensation for the alleged harm.
Dabiri-Erewa responded by counterclaiming a sum of N2 billion, asserting that her tweet was in direct response to defamatory remarks made by Odorige on the same social media platform. According to her defense, Odorige had accused her of theft and misappropriation of funds belonging to NiDCOM, allegations that were subsequently amplified by a *Sahara Reporters* article titled "Alleged N235 Million Misappropriation: US-based Nigerian Accuses Diaspora Commission Chairperson, Abike Dabiri-Erewa of Fraud, Corruption."
The accusations triggered widespread public backlash, with many criticizing Dabiri-Erewa. However, in her defense, she denied the allegations and explained that her tweet was a rebuttal to Odorige’s defamatory claims. She further clarified that it was impossible for her to propose budgets for ministries beyond her commission’s statutory responsibilities.
The case has continued to unfold in court, and with the dismissal of Odorige’s latest motion, the court has instructed him to proceed with proving his defamation claims. He will need to present his witnesses and evidence at the next hearing, which has been scheduled for November 26, 2024.
In a statement, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols at NiDCOM, expressed confidence in the judicial process, reiterating that Dabiri-Erewa was prepared to defend her integrity. He emphasized that the court’s dismissal of Odorige’s motion demonstrated the baselessness of his claims and urged him to cease wasting the court’s time.
With the upcoming November hearing, the case continues to draw attention, as both parties prepare to argue their positions in court.
