ABOKI JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment) : This is an appeal against thedecision of the High Court of the FederalCapital Territory, Abuja delivered A by Ishaq Bello J. on 20 May 2004. The defendant/appellant’s case at the lower court was that he was alleged to have between 18 October and 22 October 2002, published, distributed, circulated about, of and concerning the person and office of the plaintiff/respondent, false and defammatory words.
The plaintiff/respondent filed a writ of summons on 29 October 2002 in which he claimed as follows: “The plaintiff’s claim is for: A declaration that the false allegations of corrupt enrichment , official ineptitude, financial impropriety and fraudulent acquisition of property made against the plaintiff through various publications and media by the defendant himself and through his agents, servants, aides and/or privies are false, unfounded, wrongful, derogatory and defamatory of the plaintiff in his person and by way of his office.
An order for t…