JAMILU YAMMAMA TUKUR, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This is an appeal against the judgment of the High Court of Justice Lagos State Coram A.A. Oyebanji J (Mrs) delivered on 4th February, 2014, wherein the Court gave judgment in favour of the 1st Respondent.
The material facts leading to this appeal are that the Appellant, a Newspaper/Publishing company conducted an interview with the 2nd Respondent, titled “How my Bank Defrauded Me” and published same in its weekly issue of 3rd July, 2006. During the course of the interview, the 2nd Respondent made certain allegations against the 1st Respondent, his Bank, with regards to certain activities concerning the importation of Buses.
The 1st Respondent acting on the belief that the contents of the interview, particularly the assertions concerning its conduct in the importation process, constitutes defamation, particularly libel, instituted an action in the lower Court against the Appellant and the 2nd Defendant via an Amended Writ o…