The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chief Magistrate’s Court in Abuja has dismissed a criminal defamation suit filed by Adebimpe Audullahi, wife of Lagos-based property developer Ibile, against Nollywood actress Elizabeth Anjorin, popularly known as Lizzy Anjorin, describing the case as “incompetent and lacking in merit.”
The ruling, delivered by Magistrate Sunday Adukwu on February 3, 2026, saw the court strike out the suit marked CR/25/2025 and award N50,000 in costs against Audullahi.
The decision came after Anjorin, through her lawyer, filed a preliminary objection challenging the competence of the suit and questioning the court’s jurisdiction to hear the matter. Audullahi had accused Anjorin and Shakira Ayobami of criminal defamation, acts likely to breach public peace, and making false, malicious, and defamatory statements.
Defence counsel A. U. E. Ogboi argued that the suit was procedurally flawed and that the court lacked the authority to entertain it. The defendants’ objection focused on whether the court had the power to hear the direct criminal complaint under the circumstances.
In contrast, the complainant raised multiple issues, including claims that the criminal summons was defective, the affidavit of urgency lacked factual basis, service outside jurisdiction was requested under civil procedure rules, and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 does not allow counsel to serve criminal summons.
After reviewing submissions from both sides and citing relevant legal provisions, Magistrate Adukwu ruled entirely in favour of Lizzy Anjorin.
He stated, “The direct criminal complaint before the court is absolutely incompetent on several fronts.”
The magistrate noted that under Section 80(4) of the ACJA 2015, a complainant must file a separate complaint for each offence. “The complainant filed her complaint against the defendants for criminal defamation, acts and conduct likely to breach public peace, and presentation of false, malicious and defamatory statements. This disqualifies the entire process,” Adukwu said.
The court also criticized the case on jurisdictional grounds, noting, “Both the complainant and the defendants are residents of Lagos and not the FCT. This erodes the jurisdiction of this court to hear and determine the complaint.”
He further added, “On the whole the entire argument of the complainant/respondent counsel cannot stand the weight of legal scrutiny but must as a matter of law fall under the abuse of court process and gross procedural irregularities. It is common knowledge in law that you cannot put something on nothing. There are certain irregularities which the court may condone on grounds of doing substantial justice to the cause of the parties; but certainly not one with such a shaky foundation, irreconcilable loopholes and clear misunderstanding of the provisions of ACJA such as is represented in the instant case.”
Consequently, the court struck out the criminal complaint and awarded N50,000 costs against Audullahi for initiating the flawed suit.
