Online media publisher, Sahara Reporters has been ordered by an Ilorin High Court to pay Senate President Bukola Saraki the sum of N4 billion as damages for publishing a series of libelous stories about him.
According to Saraki’s counsel, Babatunde Olomu, the judgement was handed down by Justice Adeyinka Oyinloye who ruled against the media outfit and its publisher Omoyele Sowore on Wednesday, June 28, 2017.
The stories in question were published by Sahara Reporters between September and December 2015.
Whiie speaking with Tribune Online yesterday, Olomu said the defendants refused to argue the case in court even though several summons were issued to that effect.
During the ruling, Justice Oyinloye said, “The sum of N1 billion as general and aggravated damages for libelous words falsely, maliciously and recklessly published by the defendants of and concerning the claimant in the online issue of Sahara Reporters of October 5, 2015 under the caption ‘Nigeria at 55: Bukola Saraki and 83 Inmates Are Running the Asylum’
“The sum of N1 billion as general and aggravated damages for libelous words falsely, maliciously and recklessly published by the defendants of and concerning the claimant in the online issue of Sahara Reporters of Sahara Reporters of September 20, 2015 under the caption: ‘A polished Name for political immorality. Time for Saraki to Go!’
“The sum of N1 billion as general and aggravated damages for libelous words falsely, maliciously and recklessly published by the defendants of and concerning the claimant in the online issue of Sahara Reporters of November 09, 2015 under the caption: ‘Bukola Saraki On a shopping Spree to Buy Judges…Stop Being a Clown And A Coward Man Up, face The Music’
“The sum of N1 billion as general and aggravated damages for libelous words falsely, maliciously and recklessly published by the defendants of and concerning the claimant in the online issue of Sahara Reporters of Sahara Reporters of December 1, 2015 under the caption: ‘Arms Contract Scandal: Senator Saraki Blackmailed CBN Officials To Pay N250 Million Hush Funds.’
“An order for injunction restraining the defendants from further writing, printing or causing to be written, printed or circulated or otherwise published of the claimant the said, or similar libel.
“An order directing the defendants to remove the offending publications from its website on the internet within three days from the date of judgment and an order directing the defendants to publish an apology to the claimant on its online newspaper and in three other daily newspapers.”
In a reaction to the ruling on Thursday, Saraki released a statement, praising the country’s judicial process.
The statement, signed by his Special Adviser on Yusuf Olaniyonu, read, “One thing is clear by the judgement, there are systems in place in our nation for all citizens to seek redress if they have been unfairly treated in any way.
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