UWANI MUSA ABBA AJI, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This is an appeal against the judgment of the Katsina State High Court holden at Katsina in Suit No.KTH/27/2005, delivered on 10/3/2010 by Hon. Justice Sadiq Abdullahi Mahuta (C.J), wherein the Claims of the Respondent for defamation were granted with N100,000.00 exemplary damages and N10,000.00 general damages.
The Respondents' Claims at the Lower Court against the Appellant vide a writ of summons at pages 1 - 2 and Statement of Claim at pages 3-4 of the records respectively were as follows:
1. Exemplary damages against the defendant in the sum of Two Million Naira (N2,000,000.00).
2. General damages against the defendant in the sum of Five hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000.00).
The facts of the case as can be discerned from the records are that the Respondent sued the Appellant at the Katsina State High Court for defamation wherein 6 witnesses stood for the Respondent while the Appellant testified alone. After the conclusion,…