By Comfort Olayinka
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Kwali has admitted eight exhibits presented by Premiere Academy, Abuja, in its N500 million defamation lawsuit against gender activist Lemmy Ughegbe.
Justice Kayode Agunloye admitted the exhibits during proceedings after they were tendered by the school’s counsel, Barrister Olajide Kumuyi. The case, instituted by the Lugbe-based institution, seeks damages for alleged reputational harm caused by Ughegbe’s public statements regarding the death of 14-year-old student Keren-Happuch Akpagher.
The school claims the activist repeatedly alleged that Keren was raped on its premises, had a condom left inside her, contracted sepsis, and subsequently died of hyperglycemia on June 22, 2021. In its suit, filed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, the academy is also seeking a court order restraining Ughegbe from making further statements on the matter.
During the proceedings, Barrister Kumuyi led the school’s principal, Mr. Christopher Akinsowon, in evidence and presented eight exhibits supporting the defamation claim. These included a flash drive containing footage of Ughegbe allegedly making the remarks before 5,000 lawyers at the 2021 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja.
Also submitted were three years’ worth of the school’s admission registers, purportedly showing a decline in student enrollment due to the alleged defamation. The school claimed it recorded only 59 new applicants for its 2022 admission exams, attributing the downturn to Ughegbe’s accusations.
Additional exhibits included online news articles published by Daily Independent and The Sun on September 2, 2021, which the academy claims were used to propagate the alleged defamatory remarks. A cease-and-desist letter from Awomolo’s law firm to Ughegbe, along with the activist’s written response defending his statements, were also tendered in court.
Counsel for the defendant objected to the admission of several exhibits, arguing that some were not pre-filed or referenced in the principal’s witness statement. However, Kumuyi countered that they were appropriately cited in sworn testimony. Justice Agunloye upheld the plaintiff’s arguments and admitted the exhibits into evidence.
The court has scheduled March 18 to publicly review the video footage of Ughegbe’s alleged remarks during the NBA event. The case was also adjourned for cross-examination of the school’s witness by Ughegbe’s counsel.
Premiere Academy contends that Ughegbe, leader of the Coalition of Gender-Based Violence Responders (CGBVR), defamed the institution while discussing Keren’s death at the NBA Law Week and other public platforms.
In response, Ughegbe has dismissed the lawsuit as an attempt to silence him and vowed to defend his statements in court. He has filed his defense statement and is expected to present his case in subsequent hearings.
