A. A. UFUA V. F. A. EBORIEME

JOSEPH DIEKOLA OGUNDERE, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): Before his Lordship J. A. Obi, J. at the Benin City High Court, the plaintiff a Senior Tutor at Edo College, Benin, now appellant brought an action in libel against the defendant a clergyman and educationist, now respondent, and in his Statement of Claim averred inter alia as follows:-

3. Plaintiff avers that on or about the 31st day of July 1983, the defendant falsely and maliciously wrote and caused to be published and published at page 8 of the Newspaper known as the "SUNDAY SUN" Vol. v. No. 28 of 31st July, 1983 a newspaper having wide circulation throughout Nigeria and outside Nigeria of and concerning the plaintiff the words following. That is to say:-

"'the world knows the type of person Mr. and Mrs Ufua are. They are unscrupulous blackmailers, dirty liars, shameless, garrulous and canterkerous couple, if you had taken the trouble to see me, I would have put into your hands documents exposing the stinking antece…