Court Dismisses Defamation Suit Against Journalist Over Minna Airforce Base Report

A Minna High Court has dismissed a suit of defamation of character brought before it by a naval personnel against a Niger State correspondent.

Flt. Lt. J. O. Bamisaiye of the NAF/4112F instituted the suit against the Niger State correspondent of the Daily Independent newspaper, Chinwendu Nnadozie, over a report published on April 1, 2022, and January 1, 2023.

The court, presided over by Justice Maimuna Abubakar on Monday, February 3, 2024, dismissed the case for want of merit.

She noted that there were no justifications in the allegations, adding that the plaintiff, Bamisaiye, through her counsel, E. O. Egbonodje could not substantiate her claims.

The plaintiff had filed the case of libel challenging the two publications, titled: “Scandal Rocks Minna Airforce Base” and “Disquiet at Minna Airforce Base as Female Officer ‘Dismisses’ Junior Officer Over Alleged Failed Business Deal” on April 1, 2022, and January 11th, 2023, respectively.

In her judgment, Justice Abubakar said, “The case is dismissed because it has no merit. There was justification in the allegations as published by Daily Independent newspaper.

“The plaintiff could not prove that there were no such allegations in the two publications of immoral acts and victimisation of junior officers as contained in the publication.”

She also said that the plaintiff could not prove the case of rape against one Eucharia, a former girlfriend of Deekae, who was joined in the suit.

Commending Justice Abubakar for the ruling, counsel to the defendants (Daily Independent newspaper, Chinwendu Nnadozie, and Deekae Sunday Kiaka), Mr. Eleleri S. Otahagwa said, “It is justice well served.”