A lawsuit by a Saudi- based Foundation which claimed ₦1billion (USD654,028.90) in damages for alleged defamation against WikkiTimes, a popular newspaper in Nigeria, has fallen apart against a bulwark of the newspaper’s legal defense, which hinged on crucial support from the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA).
On June 26, 2025, the High Court 2 in Bauchi State, presided over by Justice K.N. Hamidu, dismissed the suit by Albasar International Foundation, parent company of the Makkah Eye Specialist Hospital based in Nigeria, citing the plaintiff’s lack of interest and diligence in prosecuting the case.
Before striking out the case, the court had earlier awarded ₦40,000 (USD 26.17) in damages against Albasar for delays caused by its numerous absences in court.
The dismissal of the case puts paid to a text book example of a SLAPP suit by a powerful entity which sought to use its might to bully a newspaper into recanting investigative stories that exposed corrupt practices by its subsidiary.
The suit had travelled for four years. Albasar first went to court in 2021, claiming that a story by WikkiTimes which exposed a slew of wrongdoing, including tax evasion by Makkah Eye Clinic, its subsidiary, was defamatory.
Among others, the expose had resulted in the Christian Blind Mission (CBM), an International Christian Development Organisation working in Nigeria, suspending its partnership programme with the hospital, citing credibility concerns.
In response, Albasar sued WikkiTimes, demanding a whopping ₦1Billion (USD654,028.90) in damages. Faced with this ruthless suit, WikkiTimes reached out to the MFWA for help, to which the Foundation responded with financial assistance for legal fees. The paper’s publisher, Haruna Mohammed Salisu, described this financial support as “very crucial.”
In a heart-felt email to the Manager of our Digital Rights Programme, Vivian Affoah, Haruna wrote: “I am writing to inform you that the lawsuit, which the Media Foundation for West Africa generously supported WikkiTimes to defend itself, has been struck out in our favour. This is a big milestone and a step forward for press freedom and accountability journalism in our region. We deeply appreciate MFWA’s support. This support was very crucial in enabling us to navigate the legal process effectively. Please accept our sincere gratitude.”
Commenting on the positive outcome of the case, Ms. Affoah reiterated that the support provided to WikkiTimes to defend itself in court was in keeping with the MFWA’s work to defend journalists and media organisations within West Africa, against harassment by powerful bullies who use the courts to torment journalists and media organisations over their work.
“In fact, it is advancement of this frontier of our work that we have set up the West Africa Network of Activists and Media Defense Lawyers popularly known as WANAMDEL, a network of lawyers across West Africa, whose services we use to provide legal assistance to journalists and media organizations facing legal persecution.”
In WANAMDEL, MFWA has a network of fourteen West African lawyers, available on call, to provide legal assistance to journalists and media organizations anywhere in the subregion, when they face legal persecution. The network was officially commissioned in October 2024.