David Hundeyin has been ordered by the UK Royal Courts of Justice to pay £95,000 in libel damages to BBC journalist Charles Northcott. The case arose from defamatory allegations made in Hundeyin’s 2022 article accusing Northcott of misconduct. The court emphasized the harm caused to Northcott's reputation and career.
A British court has ordered investigative journalist David Hundeyin to pay £95,000 (over ₦200 million) in libel damages to BBC journalist Charles Northcott. The case stemmed from a 2022 article titled Journalism Career Graveyard, where Hundeyin accused Northcott of exploiting his professional role for personal gain, including allegations of misconduct involving Emmy-nominated journalist Kiki Mordi during the production of the BBC's Sex for Grades documentary.
The Royal Courts of Justice ruled that Hundeyin's publication caused significant harm to Northcott’s reputation and inflicted personal distress. The court described Hundeyin’s actions as a deliberate campaign of trolling, including online harassment after the article's release. Despite prior court orders to remove the defamatory content, Hundeyin, currently in voluntary exile in Ghana, refused compliance, exacerbating the situation.
The article and associated social media posts reportedly amassed over 40 million impressions, amplifying the damage. Northcott argued that Hundeyin’s allegations negatively impacted his career, citing the global reach of the claims.
The judgment, delivered on October 8, 2024, emphasized that the video evidence provided by Hundeyin failed to substantiate his claims. The court awarded aggravated damages, noting Hundeyin’s refusal to retract the content or cease public attacks.
