Libel: Magazine to pay Oshiomhole N25m

FROM TONY OSAUZO, Benin

A Benin High Court has awarded Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, N25million as damages in a libel suit the governor instituted against Docklands Communication and one Loye Amzat, publishers and editor of the News of the People Magazine.
Governor Oshiomhole had dragged the soft sell weekly magazine to court demanding for N250million as damages over a report with the headline, ‘Oshiomhole’s sex power exposed: Impregnates young girl six months after death of wife.”
In his evidence, Governor Oshiomhole had told the court that the publication libeled his person and that the defendant, among other things falsely wrote that he bought the said girl a Sport UtilityVehicle (SUV) and interfered in the academic activities of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, on behalf of the girl. The governor also told the court that he demanded damages because the said  publication caused him and his children psychological trauma, six months after the death of his wife.

In his judgment, the trial Judge, Justice Efe Ikponmwen, also ordered the defendant to publish a well-worded retraction and apology in a similarly conspicous manner in an edition of the magazine.
He held that the governor’s evidence proved that the magazine’s publication was libelous.
Besides, Justice Ikponmwen noted that even though the public has a right to know about a public officer, such information should be in line with the law and must not be in bad faith.