UWAIS, J.S.C. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): On the 20th day of December, 1978, the appellant brought an action for libel in the High Court of Lagos State against the respondents claiming, as per his amended writ of summons, as follows-
"The plaintiff's claim against the defendants is for the sum of FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND NAIRA (₦500,000.00) being general and special damages suffered as a result of a conspiracy by the defendants and a libel of the plaintiff by the first and second defendants in a letter dated 21st March, 1978 addressed by the first and second defendants to the Inspector General of Police and repeated by the third defendant to the Commissioner of Police Department on 22nd day of March, 1978."
The facts of this case, as gathered from the pleadings exchanged by the parties are simple. They are briefly thus:
At the time material to this case the Federal Ministry of Trade was made responsible for insurance as a subject, negotiations began between the ministry and an ins…