MR. LUCKY IMAFIDON THE EDITOR, THE SPEAKER JOHN OSAZE-LANGLEY HOPE PRESS LIMITED V. DR. A. C. NWAJEI

ROWLAND, JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): This is an appeal against the judgment of Edah, J., sitting at the Delta State High Court, Agbor in suit No. AG/25/92, delivered on the 25th June, 1993. The facts leading to this appeal are that the 1st defendant being theservant and/or agent of the 2nd and 3rd defendants published a story in the “The Speaker” Newspaper issue vol. 2, No. 2, dated 26th - 31st January, 1992 concerning and touching the plaintiff, which story the plaintiff said injured his reputation and name.

Consequent upon the above, the plaintiff caused his solicitors to write to the defendants demanding for a retraction of the offending article titled

“Sergeant and 4 others Held for Murder”. An when it seemed that the defendants were unyielding and unrepentant, the plaintiff was obliged to bring the action which is the subject of this appeal, claiming from the defendants jointly and severally the sum of N2,000,000.00 (Two Million Naira) as damages for libel. As borne by th…