A Lagos High Court has ordered Peoples Gazette Limited to pay ₦100 million in damages for publishing a defamatory report about a former judge.

The case was filed by Adedayo Akintoye, who challenged a 2021 article alleging she owned a luxury apartment in Dubai’s Burj Khalifa while in office.

The court ruled that the publication falsely portrayed her as corrupt and living beyond her means, damaging her personal and professional reputation.

Justice E. O. Ashade held that the media outlet failed to verify its claims and relied on unreliable sources, rejecting its defence of public interest and fair comment.

In addition to the ₦100 million damages, the court awarded ₦25 million in legal costs and ordered the publication to retract the story, issue a public apology, and remove the content from its platform.

The court also restrained the outlet from publishing similar defamatory material in the future.