WALTER SAMUEL NKANU ONNOGHEN, J.S.C. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This appeal is against the judgment of the Court of Appeal Holden at Abuja Division in appeal no. CA/A/81/98 delivered on the 13th day of February, 2002 dismissing the appeal of appellant against the judgment of the Federal Capital City High Court, in suit No.FCT/HC/CV/572/94 in which the court entered judgment for the plaintiffs, now appellants before this court.
The appellants, as plaintiffs instituted the action against the respondent claiming damages for libel arising from a publication in the Democrat Newspaper published by the respondent in its edition of 27th June, 1994. The respondent raised the defence of qualified privilege.
In its judgment the trial court found that the defence of qualified privilege availed the respondent but went on to award damages to the appellants in the sum of N120,000.00.
Being dissatisfied with the judgment, appellants appealed to the lower court while the respondent cross appea…