From Femi Folaranmi. Yenagoa
Bayelsa State High Court presided over by Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro, has awarded N500 million to the former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke, as damages for defamation against the producers and the director of the documentary: “Is It Your Money’’
Mrs Allison- Madueke had dragged the defendants, Chude Jideonwo, Judith Audu, Eromo Egbejule, YNIIJA Limited, and Capital Film Productions Limited to court, praying for ₦ 5 billion damages for the documentary.
She had sought the leave of the court for an order directing the defendants to retract the libellous publications and tender an unreserved apology to be published in three national newspapers in Nigeria, and a daily paper widely circulating in the United Kingdom and the United States respectively.
Mrs Allison- Madueke had also prayed the court to grant an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants or anybody associated with them in any capacity from further publishing any part of the documentary.
She also sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants and anybody associated with them from airing any part or whole of the documentary.