Nigeria, Dec. 23 -- Defamation has long occupied a central place in Nigerian jurisprudence. Even in the early years following independence, actions for defamation were among the most prominent forms of civil litigation, with leading political figures frequently suing national newspapers over damaging publications. At the time, there was hardly a major newspaper that was not defending at least one libel suit. That historical reality underscores how seriously Nigerian law has always regarded reputation as a protectable legal interest.

Today, however, the battleground has shifted. The rise of the internet and social media has transformed how information is created, shared, and consumed. Statements capable of damaging a person's reputation c...