ALHAJI K.A. GIWA V. S.A. AJAYI & ORS

UBAEZONU, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The appellant sued the four respondents for libel claiming N1,000,000 (One Million Naira) as damages. The appellant was at all material times to the action a civil servant as a controller of Low Housing Projects with the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (hereinafter referred to as "the Corporation"). The respondents were staff and members of the Workers Union of the aforementioned corporation. The appellant's cause of action is founded on the minutes of a joint meeting between the Management of the Corporation and the defendants' union. The defendants represented their union. Paragraph 4 of the appellant's statement of claim states as follows:-

"4. The plaintiff avers that by Minutes of the said meeting of Friday, 10th June, 1983, at 10.30a.m., the defendants falsely and maliciously published of concerning the plaintiff the words following, that is to say.

A HOUSE AT ISOLO: The union alleged that one of our staff boug…