Bongo Ideas Slapt With GHC170K For Defamation Against Kojo Forex

An Accra High Court has ruled against popular, controversial social media blogger Albert Nathaniel Hyde, known online as Bongo Ideas, fining him GHC170,000 for defamatory remarks made against Bright Kojo Onipayede (Kojo Forex), an active social media user and Forex Trader.

On June 17, 2023, Bright Kojo Onipayede (Kojo Forex) filed an amended Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim against Bongo Ideas, accusing him of publishing defamatory statements about him on social media. Kojo Forex, widely known as a successful Forex Trader, argued that these remarks caused him significant embarrassment and negatively impacted his work, given his local and international recognition in the industry.

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Kojo Forex sought the following from the court:

• Damages for Libel in the sum of One Million Ghana Cedis (GHC1,000,000.00).
• A perpetual injunction restraining the Defendant from further publishing the defamatory statements.
• A public apology and retraction of the statements on the Defendant’s Twitter page.
• Aggravated damages for the reckless and malicious publication.
• Exemplary damages for the reckless and malicious publication.
• Costs, including legal fees.
• Any other relief deemed fit by the Court.

According to the court’s judgment, the defendant was served with the amended statement of claim and writ of summons on July 14, 2023. While properly served, the Defendant failed to enter an appearance or defense. On April 16, 2024, the Plaintiff filed his witness statement, pre-trial checklist, and exhibits.

The plaintiff also stated that he runs an academy offering training in successful forex trading techniques. He described the defendant as a self-professed internet blogger, popularly known as “Bongo Ideas,” notorious for controversial statements about public figures on social media, particularly on Twitter.

The plaintiff stated that the defendant operates a public Twitter account under the username “@Bongo Ideas” with approximately 86,800 followers.

Kojo Forex explained that, in March 2022, he attended a party hosted by a fellow influencer where he briefly exchanged pleasantries with Bongo Ideas. On April 10, 2022, Bongo Ideas sent him a direct message (DM) on Instagram, requesting mentorship and guidance on how to make money. However, Kojo Forex refused to associate with Bongo Ideas due to the latter’s notorious conduct on social media, and ignored the message.

Kojo Forex stated that, following his refusal to respond, Bongo Ideas began regularly publishing disparaging statements about him on Twitter, starting in February 2023.

According to the Plaintiff, the Defendant’s defamatory publications severely damaged his reputation, causing considerable loss, distress, and embarrassment. The Plaintiff also stated that the monthly enrollment in his forex academy drastically decreased within two months of the Defendant’s publications.

Moreover, the Plaintiff said on April 21, 2023, he instructed his solicitors to send a letter to the Defendant, demanding that he cease publishing defamatory statements, retract the published statements, and issue an unqualified apology. The Defendant failed to comply with the letter’s directives and subsequently hosted a Twitter space, publishing further defamatory statements about the Plaintiff to an audience of approximately 700 Twitter users.

Subsequently, on January 28, the High Court ruled in favor of the plaintiff, ordering the defendant to:

1. Declare that the statements published by the Defendant on his Twitter timelines on February 28, 2023, March 30, 2023, and April 18, 2023, are defamatory of the Plaintiff.
2. Issue an unqualified public apology and retraction of the defamatory statements on the Defendant’s Twitter page within 21 days of the judgment.
3. A perpetual injunction restraining the Defendant from further publication of the defamatory statements.
4. Pay general damages of GHC100,000.00.
5. Pay aggravated, exemplary, and compensatory damages of GHC50,000.00.
6. Pay costs of GHC20,000.00, totaling a charge of GHC170,000.00.