In a landmark judgment, a court has ruled in favour of Professor Ongoebi Maureen Orubide Etebu, the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State, in the defamation case she instituted against UrhoboToday and its associates.
The court declared that the publication by UrhoboToday was highly libellous and defamatory, causing severe damage to Prof. Etebu’s reputation.
Delivering judgment, the court ordered the defendants to publish a formal apology to Prof. Etebu and pay ₦100 million as damages. An additional ₦500,000 was also awarded as the cost of action.
The ruling effectively clears Prof. Etebu’s name, affirming that the allegations made against her were baseless and malicious.
According to reliable sources, Prof. Etebu, who currently lectures at the University of Port Harcourt, had to suspend her salary and temporarily step aside from her duties due to the embarrassment caused by the false publication.
The judgment, therefore, not only restores her integrity but also serves as a vindication of her long-standing record of professional excellence and public service.
Prof. Etebu, a renowned academic and administrator, had previously served as the Honourable Commissioner for Special Projects during the administration of late Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, where she supervised the foundational phase of the construction of the Niger Delta University (NDU) from its early beginnings at Government Secondary School, Amassoma.
The ruling has been widely hailed in academic and public service circles as a significant victory for truth, integrity, and the protection of individual reputation against media defamation.
About Author
