Abuja Court Adjourns N8bn Libel Suit Against Thisday, Others

The N8billion libel suit initiated by an Abuja based Property Investment Company, Winning Clause Limited and its Chief Executive Officer Chief (Mrs) Obiageli Okeke Okwubanego against Thisday Newspaper, its Abuja Bureau Chief Iyobosa Uwugiaren and two others was on Thursday adjourned to November 21, 2017 for mention.

The new date was agreed upon by both Counsel to Winning Clause Max Ozoaka Esq of Excellex Solicitors and I. F Chude Esq representing 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Fourth Defendants (Iyobosa Uwugiaren, Thisday Newspaper, Jessica Odewingie and others respectively.

The Plaintiffs had in July this year, dragged the Defendants to an FCT High Court over allegations of defamation and libel, alleging that Uwugiaren has been abusing his position as Abuja Bureau Chief of Thisday Newspaper by advancing his personal cause while misleading the public that he was carrying out professional duties.

According to Suit No: FCT/HC/CV/7007/2017 before Justice S. B. Belogore the plaintiffs, Winning Clause Limited and Mrs. Okwubanego are demanding a total of N8.95billion from Thisday and Iyobosa, which they claim are for special, aggravated and general damages arising from several publications in the Thisday Newspaper and some social media platforms by Iyobosa Uwugiaren which they say are injurious to both the corporate image of Winning Clause Limited and Mrs. Kwubanego. Joined in the suit are Jessica Odemwingie, a staff of Thisday as well as Leaders and Company Limited, Publishers of Thisday Newspaper.

The writ of the suit avers that Iyobosa who resides at the City Of David Estate owned by Winning Clause Limited and whose particular plot was earmarked for demolition by Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) because it was built on the fence line of the estate and therefore in breach of the Master Plan, has been using his position as an editorial and management staff member of Thisday Newspaper to publish libelous and defamatory articles aimed at tarnishing their image while advancing his personal interest following the dispute on his tenancy in the estate.

Paragraph 17 of the suit’s statement of claim stated that, “The Plaintiffs aver that the 1st Defendant who without basis was labouring under the misconception that the threat by the Department of Development Control to demolish his house among others was at the instigation of the 2ndPlaintiff, in conjunction with the 2nd Defendant (Jessica Odemwingie) maliciously used and are still using their profession as journalists to circulate libelous publications in print and online media against the persons of the Plaintiffs even though they knew same to be untrue, with the aim of tarnishing the Plaintiffs’ hard-earned reputation.

“That the Plaintiffs state that the defendants, particularly the 1stdefendant, by and in print and online copies of Thisday Daily Newspaper which circulated nationwide and on the worldwide web (internet) and with the intention to malign the plaintiffs and without the plaintiffs consent, published and circulated or caused to be circulated publications, wherein they referred to the plaintiffs in the following words which they know to be untrue—-,“ stating that by such publications and their contents, the defendants imputed criminal offences on the plaintiffs and portrayed the plaintiffs as fraudsters, imposters, dupes and cheats.

They also quoted a certain publication (attached) in which the 1stdefendant maliciously circulated an e-mail on the worldwide web even when he admitted that he had cause to believe that the contents of the publication were untrue.

In the said offensive publication which they averred that 1st defendant sent to e-mail addresses of more than Ninety Eight (98) recipients, and who read them including, mentioning several recipients, said that it defamed and maligned the plaintiff and portrayed her in bad light.

On the 3rd and 4th defendants (Thisday Newspaper and Leaders and Company Limited), the plaintiffs averred that they have written complaints to Thisday management with a reminder, demanding that it caution its staff, the 1st defendant, who was using his position as editorial and management staff to publish several articles and news materials in Thisday which were not in the interest of the public but to advance personal cause of intimidating and blackmailing them on a dispute that he was party to and that they have no cause or evidence that Thisday either reprimanded the 1st defendant or cautioned him to desist from abusing his position in the organization for personal aggrandizement.

Citing several documents and publications, the plaintiffs stated that they have suffered loses worth billions of Naira through termination of existing contracts and or withdrawal of others by partners both in Nigeria and abroad over the publications which were intended and actually cast aspersion on their character, reputation and integrity before reasonable members of the society.