11 February 2022

The Windhoek High Court grants First Lady Monica Geingos N$ 250 000 in defamation damages and legal cost at the conclusion of a lawsuit against Abed Hishoono. This was not a case that went to trial with the defendant not knowing what he had done. Hishoono had tendered an apology First Lady Geingos rejected as insincere. 

He had said in a video that went viral that Geingos’ son was fathered by Fishrot accused James Hatuikulipi and that he arranged her wedding to President Geingob as well as the allegation that her being founder of West Air with interest in the company was the reason she orchestrated Air Namibia’s liquidation to clear the way for that aviation company she owned.

Judge Orben Sibeya has declared all the allegations false, asked Hishoono to apologise within five-days and ordered him to pay the money.

It was unclear how much weight the court attached to Hishoono’s first apology the First Lady rejected. However, N$250 000 in damages is a new burden that could help limit public allegations, which had appeared to become unhinged and brazen in recent years. 

Hishoono apologized shortly after the ruling, but it is unclear if the First Lady Geingos has accepted the court ordered apology.