N1BN LIBEL SUIT: COURT ORDERS NEWSPAPER SERVICE ON DANIEL'S EX-AIDES

An Ogun State High Court sitting in Sagamu has ordered that two former political associates of ex-Ogun State governor, Gbenga Daniel, be served court proceedings through a national daily. In two separate suits filed before the court through Daniel's counsel, Gbenga Ojekunle against former chairman of Ijebu-East Local Government, Tunde Oladunjoye and former Chief Press Secretary to Daniel during his tenure as governor, Wale Adedayo, the ex-governor is asking for N500 million each from each defendant as compensation to him over alleged role in an alleged libelous publication against him.

The trial judge, Justice E.O Osinuga granted the order of substituted service, so that they could be served court processes personally, through the newspapers or pasting of the court processes on known residences.

Further hearing in the matter has been fixed for May 30.

The claimant in the action against Oladunjoye contended that, strained relationship prompted by the defendant's defection to the opposition party, he has resorted to publication of offensive and injurious articles against him, especially through on-line network publications, which was calculated to damage his reputation and lower his esteem in the eyes of right-thinking members of the public.

Apart from demanding for N500 million compensation, the claimant is asking the court to grant an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, his agents, servants and privies from further publishing any libelous articles, stories or other materials in any magazine, newspaper or newsletter, whether in book or electronic form concerning him under whichever guise.

In the same vein, the claimant anchored his suit against Adedayo on the alleged defamation of his character in his book entitled 'Micro Seconds Away from Death,' published in 2010, where the claimant alleged that he was portrayed as a murderer, who is not worthy to be associated with by decent human beings. He joined the publisher of the book as co-defendant.

The claimant also prayed the court for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, his agents and privies from publishing or further any libelous articles, stories or other materials in any magazine, newspaper or newsletter, whether in book or electronic form, concerning him under whichever guise; and stop further sale and circulation of the alleged libelous book, while seeking an order compelling the defendants to account for the total money from the sale and launch of the book.

In addition, the claimant is seeking an order of the court to perpetually restrain the defendant from publishing an alleged intended book entitled, 'In the Line of Fire: Party Organisation in a Young Democracy.'