By correspondent in Minna.
A Minna High Court in Niger State has dismissed a libel suit filed by Flt. Lt. J.O. Bamisaiye against the Daily Independent newspaper.
The case, which stemmed from publications on April 1, 2022, and January 11, 2023, was thrown out for lack of merit.
Justice Maimuna Abubakar, presiding over the matter on Monday, ruled that the allegations made in the articles, which reported on the Minna Air Force Base scandal and a female officer’s alleged dismissal of a junior officer over a failed business deal, were justified.
Bamisaiye, through her counsel ,E.O. Egbonodje, failed to provide sufficient evidence to substantiate claims of libel.
In her judgment, Justice Abubakar noted that the plaintiff had not proven that the publications were false or defamatory.
The case included allegations of immoral acts and victimization of junior officers, as well as an unsubstantiated rape claim involving Eucharia, a former girlfriend of the co-defendant, Deekae Sunday Kiaka.
Commending Justice Abubakar for the ruling, the Counsel to the defendants (Daily Independent Newspaper, Chinwendu Nnadozie and Deekae Sunday Kiaka), Mr. Eleleri S. Otahagwa said “it is justice well served”.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
