Nigerian journalist cleared of defamation over persecution claims

The Nigerian Federal High Court dismissed all criminal defamation charges against journalist Luka Binniyat, Alliance Defending Freedom International said Thursday. Binniyat had been embroiled in a legal battle for five years, after writing an article in which he quoted a Nigerian lawmaker accusing another of covering up genocide against local Christians.

After the U.S.-based Epoch Times published Binniyat’s article in 2021, authorities arrested him and charged him with criminal defamation. But after reviewing the facts, the court determined there was no evidence that he defamed anyone.

Binniyat said he was grateful the charges were dismissed, but he found it troubling that he was prosecuted for merely quoting a public figure, according to ADF.

Dig deeper: Read Christina Grube’s report on a recent mass killing of Nigerian Christians.