A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, has slammed an ex parte interim injunction restraining Barrister Lilian Okenwa, Editor-in-Chief of Law and Society Magazine, and Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja from publishing any further derogatory material against leading Nigerian lawyer, Dr. Monday Ubani, SAN.
The order, issued on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, by Justice S.U. Bature of the Maitama Division, stemmed from a defamation suit filed by Ubani, who accused the defendants of circulating damaging content aimed at tarnishing his professional reputation.
The suit, marked FCT/HC/CV/4411/2025, details claims by Ubani that the publications in question were calculated to injure the standing he has built over decades in legal practice.
After examining Ubani’s ex parte application, FCT/HC/M/16245/2025, filed December 4, 2025, and supported by an affidavit deposed to by Susan Nwenna Nwaze, Justice Bature granted sweeping interim orders.
According to the court:
“The defendants, their agents and privies are restrained from issuing or disseminating any further publication considered derogatory of Dr. Ubani pending the hearing and determination of the substantive motion on notice.”
The judge further ordered all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum until the motion on notice is heard.
Justice Bature also approved substituted service of processes on Okenwa by pasting the court documents at No. 17 Tunde Ogbeha Street, Durumi II, Gudu, Abuja, and on Jaja by serving the documents at House 475B, Crescent off 4th Avenue, Gwarinpa, Abuja.
The matter has been adjourned to December 16, 2025, for hearing of the motion on notice.
