Cynthia Chia Ordered to Pay £25,000 for Nine-Year Harassment Campaign Against Idowu Ogunkanmi

A British High Court has ordered Cynthia Chia to pay £25,000 in damages to Dubai-based energy trader Idowu Ogunkanmi for a nine-year campaign of harassment and defamation following a brief encounter in a London nightclub in 2015, as reported on July 11, 2025.

The saga began at the Steam Bar in the Hilton Hotel, Paddington, where Ogunkanmi, then visiting the UK for work, met Chia. After a consensual one-night encounter, Chia launched a relentless campaign, falsely accusing Ogunkanmi of rape, drugging her, impregnating her, abusing her child, and bribing police and medical staff to destroy evidence. She bombarded him with up to 100 daily calls to his workplace, sent threatening messages to his family and friends, and created social media accounts, including one named “rapist_trying_to_avoid_justice,” to post defamatory content, including a December 31, 2021, Instagram post claiming he “drugged, raped, and impregnated” her.

Ogunkanmi, a 44-year-old father of three, was cleared of a rape allegation in 2017 after a voluntary police interview found no evidence to support Chia’s claims. Despite this, her harassment continued, with defamatory posts on Instagram and X from 2018 to at least 2022. Chia, who also faced a prior conviction for common assault in February 2025, receiving a 10-week prison sentence and a five-year restraining order, did not engage with the court proceedings, leading to a default judgment.

Deputy High Court Judge Susie Alegre described Chia’s actions as “malicious” and “completely false,” awarding Ogunkanmi £25,000 for defamation and harassment and issuing a permanent injunction to prevent further abuse. Ogunkanmi, who initially sought £120,000, expressed relief, stating, “I met this person for less than 12 hours—that’s been the scariest part. For someone to be that persistent for so long on a lie, I pray for her.” He highlighted the emotional and professional toll, noting, “The damages don’t fully reflect the depth of trauma and harm done.”

This case highlights the severe impact of digital defamation and false allegations, underscoring the need for accountability in online spaces.

Source: African Publicity