AKAAHS, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This appeal is against the decision of the High Court of Imo State, presided over by Hon. Justice Ogu-Ogoagwu in suit No. HOW/352/86, which was delivered on 19/3/91. The subject matter of the proceedings in the court below is alleged libel published in the 15th August, 1986, issue of the Imo Community Concord which is a weekly newspaper.
The plaintiff now respondent in the appeal is the traditional ruler of Uvuru Autonomous Community in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State and goes by the title of Eze Oha 1 of Uvuru Ikedinairi. Before his ascension to the throne as a traditional ruler of Uvuru Autonomous Community, he worked with the SCOA (Nigeria) Limited for 37 years where he rose to become the General Manager Textiles Division before retiring in 1982. He participated in Community Service by being a member of the Uvuru Development Union (U.D.U.). He also served as the Chairman Mbaise Traditional Rulers Conference from Janua…