The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has issued an ex parte interim injunction restraining the Editor-in-Chief of Law and Society Magazine as well as Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja from making further alleged derogatory publications against prominent Nigerian lawyer, Dr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani, SAN.
The order, granted on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, by Hon. Justice S. U. Bature of the Maitama Division, follows a defamation suit filed by Ubani, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). The suit, marked FCT/HC/CV/4411/2025, alleges that the defendants circulated materials that injured Ubani’s professional reputation.
Justice Bature, after reviewing Ubani’s ex parte application (No. FCT/HC/M/16245/2025) filed on December 4, 2025, and supported by an affidavit sworn to by Susan Nwenna Nwaze, granted the following interim orders: That
The defendants, their agents, and privies are barred from issuing or disseminating any further publications considered derogatory of Ubani pending the hearing and determination of the substantive motion on notice.
All parties are directed to maintain the status quo ante bellum until the court hears the motion on notice.
The court granted permission for substituted service of all processes on the defendants.
The matter has been adjourned to December 16, 2025, for the hearing of the Motion on Notice. Dr. Ubani was represented by Sir N. S. C. Okoro.
While the specific contents of the alleged defamatory publications remain sealed pending further proceedings, the lawsuit is reportedly linked to recent articles published in Law and Society Magazine and public statements by the defendants which Ubani says have gravely harmed his reputation as a respected human rights advocate and Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
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