Court adjourns Tinubu's N150bn libel suit against AIT
(Nigeria) A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja on Wednesday
adjourned a N150 billion libel suit filed by former Lagos State Governor,
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, against the African Independent Communication (AIT) till
June 30.
Trial judge, Justice Iyabo Akinkugbe adjourned the suit to
enable Tinubu's counsel respond to the counter-claim filed by AIT.
Tinubu had instituted the suit against Daar Communications
Plc, owners of AIT, for airing a documentary entitled, "Lion of
Bourdilion".
In the suit, he alleged that the documentary, which started
airing on March 1, was libelous and aimed at tarnishing his image.
At the resumption of proceedings on Wednesday, AIT's
counsel, Mr Jeffery Kadiri, informed the court that the defendant had filed a
counter-claim which had been served on the claimant.
Responding, Tinubu's counsel, Mr Ayodele Adedipe, said that
the process was served on the claimant only two days ago, adding that he needed
time to respond.
Adedipe, therefore, asked the court for an adjournment and
the judge acceded to his request.
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 are : Namure Edoimioya, Chief Medan
Tenke, Ajibola Adewusi, Olumide Idowu, Chief Stanley Odidi, Nwabueze and Dr
Stanley Bassey.
The broadcast outfit 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 none existing ground, because the said documentary was not
entitled "The Lion of Bourdilon," but "Unmasking the Real
Tinubu".
He also averred 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 that 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 averred that the contents of the documentary were
facts which had been in the public domain for over two decades.
According to him, these are published independently, prior
to the broadcast and have remained unchallenged till date.
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