TUNDE OYEBANJI AWOTOYE, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This is the judgment in respect of the appeal lodged by the appellants via their Notice of Appeal filed on 20/8/2013.
It is an appeal against the decision of Hon. Justice Bello Abbas of High Court of Justice Sokoto State in Suit No SS/4/2009 delivered on 2/8/2013.
The plaintiff (now the respondent) at the Lower Court had instituted an action against the defendants (now appellants in this Court) claiming as per his endorsement on his writ of summons as follows:-
"??The plaintiff's claims against the defendants jointly and severally as follows:
1. N6 Million Naira damages.
2. 10% interest on judgment sum from date of judgment to date of final payment of judgment sum.
3. Cost of action.
The plaintiff and the defendants are all businessmen and woman, all resided in Sokoto within the jurisdiction of this Court.
Sometime (sic) respectively on 3/12/2008; 4/12/2008 and 5/12/2008 the defendants jointly and severally maliciously defamed …