Comedian Oga Obinna has won a Ksh6 million defamation case against Radio Jambo presenter Massawe Japanni, the station’s parent company, Radio Africa, and socialite Maureen Imbayi, also known as Black Cinderella, after a court ruled in his favor.
While confirming the victory on Wednesday, November 5, Obinna revealed that the case stemmed from statements made by Black Cinderella during an interview on Radio Jambo’s show hosted by Massawe.
The comedian claimed that false and damaging claims about his character were broadcast without verification.
"We successfully sued Massawe Japanni, Black Cinderela and Radio Jambo for defamation about a year ago and today we have won.
"Black Cinderella has been making defamatory remarks about me knowing we have never met. She gets invited for an interview by Massawe on her show that airs on Radio Jambo and she goes and makes the same remarks, the host and the producers never asked for evidence but decide to air the story for views and likes or whatever reason," he said.
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Justice Edward Too of the Milimani Commercial Magistrate Court found the defendants liable for defamation and awarded Obinna Ksh5 million in general damages.
He was also awarded an additional Ksh1.1 million in aggravated damages, damages in lieu of an apology and exemplary damages.
"I enter judgment in favour of the Plaintiff against the Defendants jointly and severally for a permanent injunction restraining the Defendants by themselves or their agents or otherwise, howsoever from publishing any further or similar defamatory material of or concerning the Plaintiff
"General damages Ksh5,000,000; Aggravated damages Ksh500,000; Damages in lieu of an apology Ksh500,000; and Exemplary damages Ksh100,000," he ruled.
This comes months after former Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba was ordered to pay Ksh10.5 million in damages for defaming the Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye.
In a ruling issued on Monday, July 14, Magistrate Ruguru Ngotho found that Orwoba’s statements published on her WhatsApp status, Facebook page, and X account were defamatory.
"In the end I pronounce myself as follows; a declaration is hereby issued that the words posted and published and circulated by the defendant on her WhatsApp status mobile number 0728xxxxx and on her Facebook page and her X handle concerning the plaintiff are defamatory, libelous and malicious,” read part of the judgment.
As such, the court awarded Nyegenye Ksh8 million in general damages and an additional Ksh2.5 million as exemplary and aggravated damages.
"The defendant is to pay the plaintiff a sum of Ksh8,000,000/= as general damages; defendant is to further pay to the plaintiff a sum of Ksh2,500,000/= as exemplary and aggravated damages," the judgement added.
Orwoba was further directed to issue a public apology on her WhatsApp status, Facebook, X account, and in a newspaper of national circulation within 30 days.
"The defendant is ordered to render a suitable and fitting apology in terms approved by the plaintiff. The apology is to be published on her WhatsApp status mobile number 0728370xxx and on her facebook page https://www.facebook.com/GloriaOrwoba and her X handle and in a newspaper of national circulation within 30 days of this judgment.
"In default of rendering an apology as ordered the Defendant shall pay an additional Ksh1,000,000/= in damages," the judgment further read.
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