AFRICAN NEWSPAPERS OF NIGERIA LTD.
V.
COKER
·
U. UDOMA, JSC (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This is an appeal by the defendants in a libel suit wherein judgment was entered for the plaintiff therein. The appeal is against the judgment of the High Court of Lagos State in suit No. LD/90/69 in which the claim of the plaintiff against the defendants was for a total sum of 25,000 pounds damages for defamatory words falsely and maliciously published by the defendants of and concerning the plaintiff (and also of the plaintiff in the way of his profession and office) in the issues of the daily newspaper known as Nigerian Tribune on the dates and under the captions hereunder appearing as specified in the particulars endorsed on the writ of summons.
Pleadings, having been ordered, were duly filed and delivered.
In his statement of claim, the plaintiff averred that he is and was at all material times the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance in the Government of Lagos State, having formerly held office as City Treasurer of the Lagos C…