A High Court sitting in Benin, Edo State, on Wednesday, awarded Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole N25m as compensation in a libel suit the governor instituted against Doclands Communications, publishers of News of the People magazine and its editor.In a related development, a judge of High Court 4, Benin, Justice Joseph Acha, ordered an official of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria in the Benin Airport, Mr. Adeboye O. F, to be remanded in prison custody for failure to meet his bail conditions.
Oshiomhole had dragged the magazine to court over a report that he allegedly impregnated a student of the state-owned Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.
The trial Judge, Justice Efe Ikponmwoba, in his verdict also ordered that the defendant published a retraction in an edition of its publication.
Justice Ikponmwoba held that evidence adduced by the governor proved that the magazine’s publication was libelous.
Justice Joseph Acha of High Court 4 in his judgment in the case between the officials of the Edo State Board of Internal Revenue and FAAN, Benin Airport, remanded Adeboye in prison custody pending when he would meet his bail conditions.
Adeboye is facing trial alongside two other FAAN officials over alleged assault and prevention of officials of Edo BIR from enforcing payment of taxes due to the state and remittance of same to the state government.
The said assault against Edo was said to have been committed on June 30, 2013.
The case was adjourned to November 14, 2013 for further hearing.
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Good one. It is a lesson and a warning to all those you think that the ability to write makes one a Journalist hence one sees all sorts of junk publications
ReplyDeleteThings are not logical in Nigeria. While the president, vice president, governors and deputy governors cannot be sued in their personal capacity due to immunity in the constitution, the same people can actually sue private and corporate citizens and claim damages. In this case, Governor Oshiomhole is N25m richer courtesy of this judgement but he didn't claim or talk about distractions from his duties during the court case. If anything, this case should be cited by the proponents of the removal of the immunity clause in the constitution as an example of how a case in court for or against may not necessarily distract the chief executives from performing their duties.
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