Nollywood actress Halima Abubakar has issued a formal apology to the Senior Pastor and General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries International, Apostle Johnson Suleman, for publishing derogatory comments against him.
This apology follows a ruling by a Federal Capital Territory High Court in April 2024, which ordered the actress to pay N10 million in damages for defamation.
In her letter, dated Saturday 5, 2024, Abubakar admitted to making baseless allegations against Apostle Suleman and expressed deep regret for the distress caused to him, his wife, Dr. Lizzy Suleman, and the entire ministry.
“I acknowledge the falsehoods I made against you on social media and offer my sincerest apologies,” Abubakar wrote. “I deeply regret my actions and the pain and distress I caused to you, your family, and the Leaders of the Omega Fire Ministry.”
The court judgment, dated April 8, 2024, confirmed that Abubakar had published defamatory statements on her Instagram account, accusing the cleric of womanizing and engaging in diabolical practices.
The court found the statements to be libellous and ordered her to refrain from further publishing defamatory content.
Apostle Suleman, in his complaint, stated that the accusations were widely shared by blogs and media outlets, causing significant harm to his reputation.
He also noted that these false allegations affected his family and ministry.
The court’s ruling has now provided some relief to the cleric, who has been battling the public fallout from Abubakar’s claims.
However, in her apology, Abubakar pleaded for forgiveness. “I humbly ask for your forgiveness… I was not thinking right then. Please extend your hands of forgiveness toward me,” she added.
The actress concluded her apology by expressing her remorse once again: “I am truly sorry for all the hurts and distress I caused you, your family, and your ministry.”
The ruling by the court emphasizes the need for public figures to exercise caution in making unsubstantiated claims, especially on social media platforms, which have the power to amplify misinformation and cause lasting damage.
