… DEMANDS N10 BILLION FOR LIBELLOUS PUBLICATIONS
Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has instituted a legal action against Western Publishing Company Limited, publishers of Nigerian Compass Newspapers over libelous publications against his person.
This follows the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to Nigerian Compass to retract baseless and unfounded stories carried in the August 25 and August 26, 2012 editions of the newspaper.
Fayemi in another suit also sued the Registered Trustees
of Nigeria Union of Local
Government Employees (NULGE) and an official of the union, Mr. V.A. Adebayo on the report
in the Nigerian Compass that he (Fayemi) was deducting N1 billion from the
local government funds.
The Nigerian Compass had published a story on August 25, 2012 to the effect that Fayemi was deducting N1 billion monthly from the allocation of the local government councils in the state.
The newspaper followed up with another story on August 26, 2012 claiming that Fayemi and his Osun State counterpart, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola made secret trips to the United States with the intent to
bribe Supreme Court judges over a suit filed before them by Mr. Segun Oni.
Fayemi , in the suit filed at an Ado-Ekiti High Court and marked HAD/84/2012 has joined Western Publishing Company as 1st Defendant and Mr. Remi Koleoso, the reporter who wrote the stories as 2nd Defendant.
The Nigerian Compass had published a story on August 25, 2012 to the effect that Fayemi was deducting N1 billion monthly from the allocation of the local government councils in the state.
The newspaper followed up with another story on August 26, 2012 claiming that Fayemi and his Osun State counterpart, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola made secret trips to the United States with the intent to
bribe Supreme Court judges over a suit filed before them by Mr. Segun Oni.
Fayemi , in the suit filed at an Ado-Ekiti High Court and marked HAD/84/2012 has joined Western Publishing Company as 1st Defendant and Mr. Remi Koleoso, the reporter who wrote the stories as 2nd Defendant.
Fayemi averred that the
highly falsehood published by the Compass Newspapers had exposed and subjected him to
unwarranted public ridicule, embarrassment and unprecedented disrepute. He
added that his credentials and track record as a gentleman and a man of
unquestionable character and an advocate of good governance have been adversely
affected by the publications.
The Claimant (Fayemi) is therefore praying the court to order the Defendants to retract the offensive publications.
He is equally demanding a public apology which shall be published in the Nigerian Compass and at least two other prominent national newspapers and that the apology must be posted on the Internet.
Fayemi is also demanding Exemplary and Aggravated Damages in the sum of N10 billion for the libelous publications against him.
The Claimant further demanded a Perpetual Injunction against the Defendants from publishing similar or further libelous publications (s) against him and that they (the Defendants) will bear the cost of
the suit.
The governor in his final prayer before the court demanded 10 per cent interest on the judgment sum from the date the judgment is delivered until the judgment sum is finally liquidated.
Fayemi, among other statements of claim averred that the state chapter of National Union Local Government Employees (NULGE) denied granting any press interview to the Defendants on the alleged deduction of council funds or make available a copy of their letter to the Defendants for publication.
He averred: “They (NULGE) requested the Defendants to explain the source of the letter they (the Defendants) published and further indicted the Defendants because it is apparent that the Defendants
fraudulently and shamelessly smuggled the words ‘State Governor’ while purportedly quoting from the NULGE’s letter in their relevant Compass newspaper”.
Fayemi in another suit also sued the Registered Trustees of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and an official of the union, Mr. V.A. Adebayo on the report in the Nigerian Compass that he (Fayemi) was deducting N1 billion from the local government funds.
The governor in the suit marked HAD/83/2012 is claiming a retraction of the libelous publication which he said has caused an injury to his reputation.
He is also demanding a public apology to be published in at least three prominent national newspapers and pasted at conspicuous notice boards at the headquarters of all the local government areas in Ekiti
State.
Fayemi also demanded a sum of N10 billion as Exemplary and Aggravated Damages against NULGE and Adebayo for the libelous publication and a perpetual injunction restraining them from publishing similar
libelous publication(s).
He equally demanded 10 per cent interest on the judgment sum from the date the judgment is delivered until the judgment sum is finally liquidated.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the two suits.
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