Tinubu N150 bn libel suit against Dokpesi adjourned to Sept. 30

     
 

An Ikeja High Court on Tuesday adjourned the N150 billion libel suit filed by former Lagos state Governor, Chief Bola Tinubu, against African Independent Television (AIT) to Sept. 30. Justice Iyabo Akinkugbe adjourned the suit for further direction on the court processes served by counsel to both parties in the suit.
Tinubu had instituted the suit against Daar Communications Plc, owners of AIT, for airing of a documentary titled “Lion of Bourdilion”. He had alleged that the documentary aired on the television station’s channel was libellous and was aimed at tarnishing his image. During Tuesday’s hearing, counsel to AIT, Mr Jeffery Kadiri, told the court that he had filed all the necessary pleadings in the matter.
Responding, Tinubu’s counsel, Mr Ademola Adesiyun, asked the court in a motion dated June 26 for extension of time in which to file a reply to AIT’s statement of defence and counter-claim.
In the counter-claim, AIT listed its Chairman emeritus, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, and seven others as witnesses to testify against Tinubu. Others listed to testify were Namure Edoimioya, Chief Medan Tenke, Ajibola Adewusi, Olumide Idowu, Chief Stanley Odidi, an engineer, Mr Nwabueze and Dr Stanley Bassey.
 The television station also denied each and every allegation of facts as contained in the claimant’s amended statement of claim. Dokpesi, in his statement on oath, averred that Tinubu’s claim was founded on a non-existent ground because the said documentary was not titled “The Lion of Bourdilion”, but “Unmasking the Real Tinubu”. He asserted that the documentary, in his honest opinion, was not false and was not aired out of malice to the person of the claimant.

Dokpesi said AIT, as a member of the fourth estate of the realm, was empowered by Section 22 of the Constitution to at all times, hold those in government accountable and responsible to the people of Nigeria.
He further affirmed that the content of the documentary were facts which had been in the public domain for over two decades. According to Dokpesi, the information in the documentary was published independently prior to the broadcast and had remained unchallenged till date.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

10 World Most Eloquent People

Image
Only the eloquent can adequately describe eloquence. It includes articulation, a mellifluous tone of voice and poise under pressure. To be eloquent is to speak well in a persuasive and deeply thoughtful way. Though it appears to come easily, eloquence does not often come naturally. The most talented speakers often have training in rhetoric and behavioral psychology. Here are 10 great examples of eloquent speakers who have made their mark on the world. 1. Martin Luther King, Jr “I Have a Dream” is perhaps the most powerful speech in American history. In poetic, unequivocal language, he explains how people can live up to their ideals for the sake of their children. 2. Abraham Lincoln In a speech only two minutes long, Lincoln explained the moral justification for the Civil War in his Gettysburg Address. 3. Winston Churchill In a few short years Churchill transformed himself from a burly, unemployed, failed novelist to a leader of the free world with ...
Read more

St. Finbaar’s College, Akoka wins the annual Helmbridge Science Challenge for secondary schools in Lagos State.

St. Finbarr’s College Akoka, Lagos at the weekend won the annual Helmbridge Science Challenge for secondary schools in Lagos State. The school in a six-week-long competition defeated May Day College and Topgrade Secondary School, Surulere in the preliminaries to qualify for the final. The Akoka boys who walked-over Penny International College Coker, the defending champions, for late coming, went into sporadic jubilation on their victory. The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN reports that 16 schools participated in the competition, including Yaba College of Technology Secondary School, St. Finbaar’s College, Penny Internatinal College, Shining Lord’s Secondary and Technical School. Others are St. Michael’s Anglican College, Jubilee Model Grammar school, Fountain Heights Secondary School, St. Gregory’s College and St. Jude’s Private Secondary School. Also in the competition are Methodist Boys’ High School, Birch Freeman High School, Community Senior Grammar School and ABS College. ...
Read more

BIAFRA: IPOB, MASSOB shut down markets, Uwazuruike expelled

Image
  Visit Late Odumegwu Ojukwu’s house to seek his blessing Uwazuruike expelled, Madu takes over as MASSOB leader Forget Biafra, secession —Nwabueze Over seven thousands members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, yesterday,   shut   down markets and all commercial activities in Nnewi, Anambra State in solidarity protest for the release of the Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, who has been incarcerated by  the Directorate of State Services, DSS, for over one month. Members of the IPOB mobilized from Onitsha, Asaba, Awka, Ekwulobia, Awka-Etiti, Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi and Abia states, converged at  Nnewi from where they marched to the house of the late Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu to ask for his blessing even in death. This came as constitutional lawyer and leader of eminent group of Nigerians, The Patriots , Professor Ben Nwabueze (SAN),  admonished  the  groups to have a re-think over th...
Read more