A US Federal District Court has suspended the hearing in a $10 million defamation lawsuit brought Washington-based Nigerian human rights lawyer Emmanuel Ogebe against The Wall Street Journal with regard to his sponsorship of Chibok schoolgirls to America for studies.

In a ruling issued last week, the court stated: “Given the current circumstances related to COVID-19, there is no hearing for the motion to dismiss unless the Parties hear otherwise. As such, the hearing set for April 10, 2020.”

The court was originally scheduled to hear a motion by The Wall Street Journal to dismiss Ogebe’s lawsuit on April 10 but for the exigent COVID-19 pandemic which has brought activities to a halt.

In his amended complaint in the defamation lawsuit, Ogebe alleges that Wall Street Journal described him as a terrorist. He also alleges that the paper’s reporter Drew Hinshaw admitted in audio recorded by him (Ogebe) that the Chibok girl who accused the human rights lawyer lied.