Pastor Helen Ukpabio, the founder of Liberty Gospel Church, is seeking N200 billion in damages from Nigerian singer Bloody Civilian for allegedly defaming her on social media.
The controversy erupted after Bloody Civilian made a shocking accusation against Ukpabio, claiming she was responsible for encouraging people to burn their children alive.
The singer made the statement in a post celebrating Ukpabio’s 60th birthday on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, where she accused the pastor of promoting harmful and dangerous practices.
Along with her post, Bloody Civilian also shared a YouTube documentary that criticized Ukpabio’s religious practices and methods.
The documentary highlighted allegations that Ukpabio’s teachings were linked to witch-hunting and child abuse.
In response, Ukpabio’s daughter, Imabong, issued a direct threat to Bloody Civilian, warning her to remove the post or face legal consequences.
“I give you the next five hours to take this down, or I will educate you in court!” Imabong wrote in her message on social media.
Despite this warning, Ukpabio’s legal team has taken the matter to the next level, demanding significant compensation from Bloody Civilian for the alleged harm caused by the defamatory remarks.
A letter from Ukpabio’s legal representative accused the singer of making “reckless, satanic, and libellous” statements that have caused emotional distress and harm to the pastor’s reputation.
“We have received information about your reckless, satanic, and libellous posts on X, one of the world’s largest social media platforms,” the letter stated.
The letter also demanded that Bloody Civilian retract her statements and publicly apologize for the accusations. Ukpabio’s legal team gave the singer 72 hours to fulfill these demands.
“The allegations you have made are grossly false,” the letter continued. “Our client requests that you issue a public apology on all social media platforms and in ten national and international newspapers within 72 hours. Failure to do so will result in further legal action.”
In addition to the apology, Ukpabio is demanding N200 billion as compensation for the “distress, trauma, pain, and anguish” caused by the defamatory post.
The amount has drawn attention due to its hefty nature, with many questioning whether it is an exaggerated response or a serious legal demand.
The controversy over the incident stems from longstanding criticism of Ukpabio’s methods, which some claim have incited violence and persecution, especially against children accused of witchcraft.
The pastor has faced criticism both locally and internationally for her involvement in the controversial practice of identifying children as witches, a subject that has sparked debates on child rights and religious practices in Nigeria.
In response to the growing controversy, Ukpabio’s camp has emphasized that the accusations made by Bloody Civilian have already been thoroughly investigated by the police, and the results have shown the claims to be entirely false.
“We have already gone through an investigation, and the police have confirmed that these allegations are baseless and untrue,” Ukpabio’s legal team stated in the letter.
The legal demands have now placed Bloody Civilian in the spotlight, as she faces the potential for a major financial settlement if she does not comply with Ukpabio’s requests.
However, Bloody Civilian has taken a defiant stance in response to the legal letter. In a tweet, she joked about the situation, implying that she would need to offer additional services to raise the money to pay the N200 billion damages.
“This December, I will be adding the following to my services: weddings, standup comedy, and settling disputes,” she wrote, mocking the severity of the legal demand.
Her response has drawn mixed reactions from social media users, with some supporting her stance and others criticizing her flippant attitude toward the serious legal threat.
The case has sparked a larger conversation about the power of social media and its potential to damage reputations, as well as the growing trend of public figures using legal threats to deal with online accusations.
As of now, Ukpabio’s legal team is waiting for Bloody Civilian to either comply with their demands or face further legal action. The singer has yet to comment on the specifics of the legal process, but she has made it clear that she intends to fight back against the charges
