<p><strong> MUSDAPHER, JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): </strong> In the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja and in suit No. FCT/CV/177195. The plaintiffs instituted an action against the defendant for the sum of N10,000,000.00 being damages for libel. It is alleged that the defendant on or about the 1st day of July, 1994 falsely and maliciously wrote and published by pasting at various notice boards in the University of Abuja Campus and concerning the plaintiffs in a press release titled “THE COMING OF NEW LEADERS IN NON-ACADEMIC STAFF UNION</p><p>NASU UNIVERSITY OF ABUJA “CHAPTER” the following words:-</p><p>“I took over the leadership from Hassan Makolo whoseadministration was characterised by acts of lawlessness, confusion, misinformation, insurbodination, intimidation and confrontation. Infact, the last Ex-Co are strongly believed to</p><p> have been sponsored by some disgruntled elements to cause chaos and confusion in the University. The ex-chairman was recently accused of writing and distributing an …</p>