SANUSI, JCA (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This is an appeal against the judgment of Lagos State High Court delivered on 12th October, 1993 in suit No.ID/1439/88. The 1st appellant as 1st defendants in the lower court is a printer and publisher of some daily and weekly newspapers among which is Sunday Concord while the 2nd and 3rd Appellants in this appeal and 2nd and 3rd Defendants at the lower court were Editor and Reporter respectively of the 1st Appellant at time material to the action before the lower court which gave rise to the appeal. On the other hand the Respondent in this appeal was an employee of the former Bank of Credit and Commerce International as a branch manager of the Aghowa Ikosi branch of that bank.
As plaintiff in the court below the Respondent sued the Appellants for defamation by its publication of news item in its weekly newspaper, Sunday Concord Volume 9 No. 276 of 19th June, 1988 on the back page captioned "4 MEN NABBED OVER ATTEMPT TO SWINDLE C.B.N." Th…