In a landmark legal battle that has captured public attention, the Court of Appeal in Enugu has dismissed an appeal filed by four senior doctors from the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, including its Medical Director, Dr. Ubochi Vincent, against Mr. Afam Ndu, a senior nurse at the institution. The decision marks a significant victory for the nurse who had been accused of serious offenses, including rape, murder, and fraud, by the doctors in 2017. The defamation case has now entered its final phase, with the court ruling against the appeal and reaffirming the earlier judgment of the Enugu State High Court.
In 2021, the High Court had ruled in favor of Mr. Ndu, awarding him N2.5 million in damages, and ordering the doctors to retract their defamatory statements. The court had also mandated the doctors to issue a public apology in two national newspapers. The accusations made against Mr. Ndu had severely tarnished his reputation, subjecting him to public ridicule and severe emotional distress. According to the High Court ruling, the doctors’ claims were found to be “false, malicious, and vexatious” and thus amounted to actionable defamation.
The four doctors, however, were dissatisfied with the outcome and took their case to the Court of Appeal, arguing that their statements were protected as privileged information, as they had been made in a letter to the Ministry of Health. They contended that their petition, which accused Ndu of criminal acts, was an internal communication meant for administrative purposes and should not have been made public.
Their appeal was heard by a three-judge panel, led by Hon. Justice Zainab Bage Abubakar, who on January 25, 2025, struck down their appeal. Justice Abubakar ruled that the appeal lacked merit and dismissed it outright. The judges concurred that the two primary issues raised by the appellants, which related to the falsehood and malice of their original statements, were not properly supported by the evidence.
“These issues do not arise from the grounds of appeal,” Justice Abubakar stated. “Therefore, we find that the appeal is without merit and must be dismissed.”
While the court refrained from awarding additional costs, it ordered both parties to bear their own legal expenses. Justice Joseph Eyo Ekanem and Justice Ridwan Abdullahi, who were also part of the panel, agreed with the lead judgment, ensuring a unanimous decision.
The outcome of this case has been widely celebrated by those advocating for justice and fairness in the workplace. Mr. Ndu’s counsel, I.O. Adani, expressed satisfaction with the ruling, emphasizing its broader implications for society. He praised the decision as a triumph for justice and a warning to those who engage in malicious defamation.
“This is not just a victory for Dr. Afam Ndu, but for our society as a whole,” Adani declared. “It sends a strong message that no one is above the law, and no one has the right to destroy another person’s reputation without consequences. The court has proven that justice will prevail, even in the face of powerful individuals.”
The case began in 2017 when Mr. Ndu, a well-respected psychiatric nurse, was accused by the four doctors of serious misconduct, including allegations of rape and murder. The accusations were made in a petition to the Ministry of Health, which the doctors had signed and circulated among government officials. According to Ndu, the charges were entirely fabricated and aimed at tarnishing his character for reasons that were not immediately clear.
Despite the serious nature of the accusations, Mr. Ndu chose to take legal action in a bid to clear his name and hold those responsible for the defamation accountable. In 2017, he filed a lawsuit against the doctors, seeking redress for the damage to his reputation. The case dragged on for years, with the High Court eventually ruling in his favor in 2021.
The decision to take the case to the Appeal Court further delayed justice, but the latest ruling has now brought an end to the legal battle. Ndu’s victory has been hailed by many as an important step forward in the fight against defamatory actions, especially within professional and healthcare environments where the reputation of individuals can be easily harmed by false accusations.
For the doctors involved, this ruling serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of making defamatory statements, particularly when they are baseless and malicious. By challenging the judgment, they had hoped to overturn the High Court’s findings, but the Court of Appeal has firmly upheld the lower court’s decision, reinforcing the principle that false accusations should not go unpunished.
The case has also drawn attention to the broader issue of workplace defamation and the need for stronger legal protections for employees who may find themselves the subject of false and damaging claims. Legal experts have noted that this case may set a precedent for other individuals who are wrongfully accused and seek justice through the courts.
With the court’s decision now final, Mr. Ndu can move forward with the enforcement of the judgment. He is entitled to receive the N2.5 million awarded to him, as well as a formal public apology from the doctors, which will be published in two national newspapers as part of the ruling.
This outcome is likely to have significant implications for the medical profession in Nigeria, especially in terms of how allegations of misconduct are handled within medical institutions. It underscores the importance of ensuring that claims made against individuals are thoroughly investigated and substantiated before being presented publicly, particularly when they could lead to irreparable harm to a person’s career and reputation.
