A judge in Essex County slashed an $18 million jury award in a high-profile defamation case to just $500 on Monday, ruling Ghanaian investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas failed to prove actual harm to his reputation. Superior Court Judge Jeffrey B. Beacham granted a motion by Kennedy Agyapong, a controversial former Ghanaian lawmaker, to dramatically reduce the jury’s award, originally granted in March after a trial in Essex County. The ruling follows a years-long legal battle stemming from Agyapong’s incendiary remarks made in response to Anas‘s 2018 undercover BBC Africa documentary that exposed deep corruption in Ghana‘s soccer federation and judiciary. Agyapong, who was not named in the documentary but claimed he was defamed by association, responded by airing a video titled “Who Watches the Watchman,” accusing Anas of corruption and criminal behavior. Anas later sued in Essex County, where the footage was disseminated online, alleging defamation and reputational harm. During the trial, the jury found in Anas’s favor, awarding $18 million in damages. But the judge ruled Anas failed to provide sufficient evidence of actual damage to his reputation — a key element in sustaining the jury’s award. Without such evidence, the court held that Anas was entitled only to nominal presumed damages, capped at $500 under New Jersey law. Agyapong’s attorney, Timothy E. Corriston, of Roseland, said in a statement the decision reaffirmed long-standing legal principles. “As a matter of law, neither actual damages nor punitive damages were available to Anas, and the court properly reduced the jury award,” Corriston said. The court also denied Anas’s request for a new trial or an increase in damages, known as an additur. Anas’s attorney Andrew K. de Heer did not immediately respond Wednesday to a request for comment. Despite the drastic reduction, the case drew international attention, both for its connection to Anas’s high-stakes anti-corruption work and for its cross-border implications involving U.S. courts and African political figures. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com.