MRS. MALTIDA ADERONKE DAIRO V. UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC & ANOR

I. T. MUHAMMAD, JSC (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The plaintiff at the Lagos State High Court of Justice holden at Ikeja within the Ikeja Judicial Division, took a writ of summons against the defendant. She indorsed the following claim:-

"Plaintiff claim is for N25 million damages for the libelous publication pasted by the second defendant on the plaintiff's one story building of No.12, Adegbite Street, Iju-Ajuwon, Agege."

Background facts giving rise to the above claim as contained in the printed record of appeal show that the plaintiff is a banker of repute with the Nigerian Arab Bank Ltd. holding the post of an Assistant Manager in the bank. She is the owner of a property known and described as No. 12, Adegbite Street, Iju-Ajuwon, Agege in the Ikeja Local Government Area of Lagos State. The plaintiff claimed that on or about the 10th of January, 1981, the 1st defendant caused an auction notice to be pasted on her one storey building at No. 12, Adegbite Street, Iju-Ajuwon, Age…