Court Slams N4bn Damage On Sahara Reporters Over False Story Against Saraki

A judgement of N4 billion has been slammed against the publisher of the popular online newspaper, Sahara Reporters, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, over series of stories published last year by the medium against Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

The judgement which was passed by an  Ilorin High Court judge, Justice Adeyinka Oyinloye on Wednesday, June 28, was in relation to some libelous stories published by the online medium against Saraki between September and December of 2015.

The Senate President had, through his lawyer, Babatunde Olomu, asked for the intervention of the court following the publications.

Both Sowore and Sahara Reporters were joined as defendants in the suit marked as KWS/23/2017.

Speaking to newsmen, Babatunde Olomu said that the defendants had refused to defend the case despite the service of the summons on them.

According to him, the first series of service involved an arrangement between the office of the Nigerian Ministry of Justice and their counterpart in New York, the operational base of the medium.

When that yielded no result, the counsel said the claimant thereafter seized the opportunities of a visit to Nigeria by Sowore to serve him at his two properties in Ikeja area of Lagos state.

Delivering the judgement, Justice Adeyinka Oyinloye of the court agreed with Olomou and granted all the reliefs sought by the claimant in the case.

The reliefs granted are as follows:

“the sum of N1 billion as general and aggravated damages for libellous 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 libellous 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 libellous 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 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 libellous 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 an 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.” he said.

Meanwhile, Saraki on Thursday,   June 29, commended the judgment by the court, emphasising that it was a testament that the moral arc of the universe will always bend towards justice.

The Senate President in a statement through his special adviser on media and publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, urged Nigerians to seek redress in court if they have been unfairly treated in any way.

“This judgment is a fulfillment of our promise that we will explore all legal means to seek redress for all the fabrications and mudslinging that Sahara Reporters has thrown at us over the years.

“This judgment demonstrates that our justice system can and will continue to protect the fundamental human rights of all citizens from being infringed by anyone.

“The ruling by Justice Adeyinka Oyinloye, will serve as a deterrent to all those who profit by propagating ‘Fake News’ to blackmail innocent citizens or curry undue favours.

“This judgement is definitely not a victory for the Senate President alone. It is a victory for all the victims of the falsehood which Sahara Reporters daily dole out to rubbish the reputation of innocent Nigerians, many of whom either out of fear, lack of the patience to consistently pursue a court case for years or lack of belief in the ability of the system to give them justice decided to live with the injury to their reputation,” the statement said.

The Senate President swore that he will not spare any legal efforts and expenses, both in Nigeria and abroad, necessary to recover every kobo of the cost awarded in his favour from the defendant.

“The restitution from this judgement will be channeled to set up a foundation whose aim will be to support pure and unadulterated investigative journalism and assist the families of real journalists that die in the line of duty.

“The money will also be used to support genuine publications whose owners are struggling to pay salaries of workers or meet their ever rising running cost. Part of the money will also be channelled to help lawyers who have been providing pro bono services to litigants, particularly, on cases bothering on enforcement of fundamental human rights,” the statement concluded.