EDOZIE, JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): This appeal raises a rather novel question as to whether an electricity bill showing arrears of cost of electricity used by a consumer is libellous of that customer. This issue arose, in a suit No. C/305/95 dated 14th June, 1995 filed at the Calabar High Court wherein the respondent herein as plaintiff sought against the defendant therein, now appellant reliefs set out in the writ of summons and paragraph 13 of the statement of claim as follows:- “(1) N200,000.00 (Two hundred thousand naira) damages for the defamation of the plaintiff’s character by reason of the malicious publication of scandalous bills against the plaintiff in spite of repeated protests and warnings from the plaintiff.
(2) Perpetual injunction restraining the defendant by itself or through its agents or servants howsoever from publishing any further scandalous bills against the plaintiff.”
The initiating process, that is, the writ of summons on which was endorsed a thirtee…