OGUNTADE, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Ruling): This is an application by the defendants/appellants that the proceedings in suit No. LD/2799/91 be stayed pending the determination of the appeal now before us in CA/L/45/96.
The respondent as plaintiff had in suit No. LD/2799/91 brought an action in defamation against the appellants as the defendants. The defendants were alleged to have falsely and maliciously published of or concerning the plaintiff in the 'Daily Times' issue of 23 - 10-91 the following words:
"Although the dissolution order simply attributed the action to the re-organisation going on in the authority.
Daily Times found that the dissolution might not be unconnected with the allegations of corruption, inefficiency and mis-management levelled against the authority's echelon of late.
Apart from the rampaging corruption, they claimed that the inefficiency of the authority has nearly killed the indigenous shipping industry through various absurdities, while at the same enrich…