EMMANUEL BEKEE & ORS V. FRIDAY EBOM BEKEE

UCHECHUKWU ONYEMENAM, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This is an Appeal against the decision of Honourable Justice B. A. Georgewill of Rivers State High Court contained in the judgment delivered on the 25th October, 2010. In that judgment, the Court dismissed the Appellants claim in its entirety for lack of merit.

The Appellants by their Amended statement of claim dated 17th July, 2009 claimed against the Respondent as follows:-

"(a) ₦30,000,000.00 (Thirty Million Naira) only being general damages for defamation.

(b) Perpetual, injunction restraining defendant from further perpetrating any act of defamation against the claimants.

(c) Any other sum as the Honourable court may deem fit to award in the circumstances."

The bone of the facts giving rise to the above claim can be gleaned from paragraph 6 of the Amended Statement of Claim at page 61 of the record.

Appellants who are three (3) brothers from Elelenwo in Obio/Akpor Local government Area of Rivers state sued the Respo…