Judging Matters might only feature small cases and minor claims, but you will never cease to be amazed at how much insight the show gives into what human nature really looks like.
One major learning point from the show is to never enter verbal agreements with anyone while transacting business.
On episode six, there were two cases involving a defamatory statement on social media, and a car purchase transaction that went bad.
Case 1: Janet Osemudiame vs Roseline Lawrence
Janet is requesting for N100,000 in damages from Roseline for defamatory social media posts made about her skin products. Roseline wanted clearer skin, so she purchased a N12,000 kit from Janet. This product pack cleared the spots on her skin.
Thereafter, she wanted brighter skin, but the same product did not work. She then took to Instagram and wrote a defamatory statement on Janet’s page, saying the product was fake and the 24-7 product does not work.
Janet asked the court to instruct Roseline to take down the social media comments and pay for damages worth N100,000. When Janet was asked how she arrived at the N100,000 figure she had asked in damages, she said the defamatory statement had affected her personally and had affected her brand. She further told the court that she had lost some of her prospective clients due to the statement.
In her ruling, Justice Olusola Williams instructed Roseline to take down the post and also make a payment of N75,000 to Janet for the damages caused to her and her business. The product Roseline bought did actually clear her spots and that was the initial agreement at purchase.
Case 2: Abdul Abubakar vs Chigozie Ndubusi
In August 2019, the plaintiff Chigozie had bought a car from Abdul at an agreed negotiated price of N500,000, with an initial deposit of N380,000, and a verbal agreement to make the balance payment of N120,000 in October. In October 2019, Chigozie paid another N20,000 to Abdul, three weeks after this payment was made. He complained to Abdul that the car was faulty and had since defaulted in paying the remaining N100,000 until Abdul fixes the issues with the car.
The defendant, Abdul told the court that he needed money and had to sell his car to Chigozie at the negotiated price of N500,000. This same car at that time sold for between N700,000 to N750,000 in the market. Abdul said Chinedu tested the car before he bought it and that there were no issues with the car at the time of purchase. There were no written agreements or receipts for the transaction.
When the counsel probed further, Chigozie revealed that he did not test drive the car, as he was in a hurry to embark on a journey the day he got the car, Abdul only drove him round in the car, after which he paid and traveled.
To gain clearer insights about the issue, Ebuka asked Chigozie if he told Abdul that by the time, he tested the car and it is not in a good condition he would get his refund, and Chigozie said no.
Chigozie told the court that he got back from his trip and discovered the car wasn’t working anymore. He had to change the battery and then the car began making some sounds that indicated another fault. On another occasion, one of the doors started to malfunction, and at this point, Chigozie thought Abdul sold him the car with the knowledge of these issues. Chigozie had spent about N80,000 on the car and all the car problems had been fixed, which is why he told Abdul that if he fixed the car, he wouldn’t pay the N100,000 balance.
In her ruling, Justice Olusola Williams said to Chigozie, “you shouldn’t kick a man when he’s down. Abdul was broke and he needed money, this was why he sold the car. Mr. Chigozie, this car has been in your custody for months, and so you have to pay the balance,” She thereafter declared judgment for the claimant in the sum of N100,000.
Don’t miss the next episode of Judging Matters on Mondays on Africa Magic Showcase channel 151 at 6:00 pm, with a repeat episode on the same channel on Wednesdays at 10:00 pm. Stay tuned to Africa Magic for the finest entertainment the continent has to offer and if you aren’t already watching, make sure you get your DStv subscription asap!
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