The Nation Editorial Board’s Chairman, Sam Omatseye, has sued The Sun Publishing Limited and Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited at the Ikeja High Court in Lagos for alleged defamation.
He is demanding N2 billion damages.
The claimant, a graduate of History from University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile-Ife, a poet, playwright, novelist, journalist and columnist of many years standing, said The Sun and New Telegraph, published by the defendants, defamed him.
Omatseye, who has taught in Metropolitan State College, Denver, University of Colorado and University of Denver in United States of America and has won several fellowships and awards, is demanding a retraction of the “malicious” publications.
The allegedly offensive reports were published in Daily Sun and New Telegraph of October 13.
Part of The Sun publications reads: “We wonder how a supposedly seasoned writer and editorial board chair could not distinguish between propaganda and purely professional reportage in his pecuniary bohemianism. This is indeed unprofessionalism demonstrated by rascally Omatseye.
“….In any case, is Omatseye saying that Tinubu, as the publisher of The Nation, determines what the newspaper publishes? If that is the convention in his organisation, it is an entirely different case inThe Sun and New Telegraph titles, as Kalu has never interfered in the editorial policy and content of the titles in his newspaper establishments.
“In addition, for purposes of argument, even if that was the routine, it is not against the ethics of journalism for publishers to kill stories as expected by Omatseye, who know full well that Kalu does not meddle in his publications?
“We sympathise with brazen Omatseye on grounds of his not being a trained journalist or even a news reporter so as to understand the distinction between the news reporting and poetry, which incapacitates his knowledge of the rudiments of the calling which all Mass Communication sophomores know.
“It is also unfortunate that since Omatseye returned from America and was rehabilitated by a few past and present governors, he has turned himself to a rabid defence dog for his new benefactors….”
The claimant, through his lawyer Festus Keyamo, said the words in their natural and ordinary meaning (by direct reference and innuendos) meant and were understood to mean that he is a charlatan, an impostor, a fake personality, a dubious person whose stock in trade is sycophancy and dishonesty, a mudslinging and dangerous personality and a corrupt and uncivilised person.
“The libellous publication by the defendant was widely circulated and read by millions of people in the world and particularly in Nigeria where the claimant has several associates, friends, family and professional colleagues.
“By reason of the publication of the words…, the claimant has been seriously injured in his character, credit, reputation and integrity and had been brought to public scandal, odium and contempt and has suffered damages,” Omatseye said.
The claimant averred that the libellous materials as shown in “the Daily Sun” were published in the ordinary course of business and accordingly offered for sale to the public.
Omatseye added that he “shall contend at the trial that the action of the defendant was motivated by malice and with intent to undermine and malign the goodwill and popularity enjoyed by the claimant”.
According to him, the newspapers knew the libellous publications were untrue, unfounded and cannot be substantiated.
Omatseye said immediately after the materials were published, he received numerous telephone calls from professional colleagues, international associates, multinational organisations, relations, friends and religious leaders “expressing their utmost disgust and contempt at the claimant’s alleged disgraceful, unpatriotic and sacrilegious conducts” and questioned his integrity.
“The spurious allegations made by the defendant are untrue and actuated by malice with intent to malign and undermine the claimant’s reputation,” he said.
According to Omatseye, The Sun did not conduct any investigation into the truthfulness of the allegations before publishing them.
It also did not offer the claimant any opportunity to respond to the allegations before publishing them, he said.
“By publishing the allegations in a sensational screaming caption, the defendant evinced the intention to malign the claimant and drag his reputation in the mud,” Omatseye said.
The claimant averred that he has suffered tremendous damage to his reputation, adding that if the defendant is not restrained, it will further publish injurious articles against him.
He sought a declaration that the publication is libellous.
Omatseye also demanded N1 billion each from The Sun and New Telegraph “being damages for the words published of and concerning the claimant which are libellous by direct reference and innuendo…”
He sought an order for a retraction and an unreserved apology by the defendants for the publications.
Omatseye prayed for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the newspapers, whether by themselves, agents, privies or servants from further publishing or causing to be published any libellous, injurious or defamatory words against him.
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