Libel Suit: Nigerian Pilot Settles With Jega Out Of Court

SAN FRANCISCO, February 28, (THEWILL) – Dom Communications Limited, publishers of the Nigerian Pilot newspapers and its Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Dennis Sami, have agreed to terms of settlement with Professor Attahiru Jega, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), over libelous publications.

THEWILL recalls that in the Nigerian Pilot editions for 28th August, 2013, and 25th November, 2013, the newspaper carried stories under the caption “Exposed!: Jega's dirty deals'.

In an action filed by Professor Jega's lawyers, Messrs Dikko & Mahmoud, Professor Jega refuted the allegations as false and malicious and demanded a retraction and public apology. He also claimed the sum of N700million as general and aggravated damages.

When the matter came up last before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on December 3, 2014, the parties informed the court that negotiations were on to resolve the matter.

The parties, according to a statement issued Saturday by Kayode Idowu, Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Prof. Jega, have finally agreed to terms of settlement by which the newspaper and its Editor-in-Chief have published a retraction and apology in three national newspapers, namely the Nigerian Pilot, ThisDay and Daily Trust.

The publications, according to the statement, appeared in the January 13th edition of the Nigerian Pilot, and in the January 14th edition of ThisDay and Daily Trust newspapers. Professor Jega's lawyer, Mr. A. B. Mahmoud, SAN, also confirmed that the Defendants paid an undisclosed amount as part of the settlement. The statement said “With this, Professor Jega has instructed that the action be discontinued.”