Kunle Adelabu
The High Court of Lagos State has restrained an Ikorodu-based community newspaper, Oriwu Sun, from printing, publishing and circulating any defamatory publication against a former Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development in the State, Prince Rotimi Ogunleye.
The court, which sat at the Ikorodu Judicial Division on Tuesday September 8, 2020, gave the order of interlocutory injunction after hearing the Motion on Notice supported by Affidavits and exhibits filed by Ogunleye who is the Claimant in a libel action against the publisher of Oriwu Sun, Alhaji Monzor Olowosago, and his newspaper company.
Prince Ogunleye, who is a journalist and lawyer, had on August 4, 2020, filed a libel action against Alhaji Olowosago and Oriwu Sun (Defendants/Respondents) claiming among other reliefs N10million naira (five million naira as general damages and another five million naira as aggravated damages).
Ogunleye is a former Editor of the Business Times, a business and economic newspaper in the Daily Times of Nigeria Plc’s stable.
In a ruling delivered by Justice O. O. Ogungbesan, the court gave an order restraining the Defendants/Respondents jointly and severally either by themselves, agents, privies, or whosoever or howsoever called, from further writing, printing, publishing and circulating any defamatory statements against the Claimant/Applicant in the Oriwu Sun newspaper or in any other medium overtly or covertly pending the determination of the substantive suit before the honorable court.
The court, in a duly considered ruling after a perusal of the affidavit evidence and accompanying exhibits as well as the argument on the issue raised in the application, noted that Ogunleye’s application had merit and the order of interlocutory injunction was accordingly granted as prayed.
Meanwhile, the Publisher of the Oriwu Sun, Alhaji Monzor Olowosago confirmed the development to our reporter.
The Publisher, while speaking with our reporter in his office on Friday (today), said that he will comply with the ruling of the court as directed.
