FREDERICK OZIAKPONO?OHO, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The source of the dispute between the parties to this Appeal is a letter written by a member of a caretaker committee of a town progressive Union, resigning his position as member. In the letter dated the 15th day of December, 1998 and addressed to His Royal Highness, the EZE URUALLA, EZE EDDY OKOSISI EZEANYIKA XI he had expressed his disappointment in the activities of the caretaker committee and had said so in the following language at paragraph two (2);
The leadership is full of disorder, it is very weak, crooked, Deceitful and selfish. There is no sincerity of purpose in all our deliberations. I am highly demoralized and disappointed.
As a result of this letter, the Respondent as Claimant, that is the said EVARISTUS O. EGBEBU instituted on the 28-1-2002 an action against the Defendant, EMEKA IZEJIOBI claiming the sum of Five Million (N5) Naira as damages for libel among other reliefs. In the Statement of Claim, the…