* Matter settled out of court.
THE African Independent Television (AIT), yesterday tendered an unreserved apology to the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Bola Tinubu, for airing a libellous documentary on him.
The apology was issued by Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Chairman of Daar Communications Limited, owners of AIT, after both parties agreed for an out of court settlement of the N150 billion libel suit instituted by Tinubu against the broadcast outfit at an Ikeja High Court.
Tinubu, in the suit filed before Justice Iyabo Akinkugbe, claimed that the documentary, titled “Lion of Bourdilon”, was libellous and aimed at tarnishing his image. During yesterday’s proceedings, counsel to Dokpesi, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), informed the court of his client’s wish to embrace alternative dispute resolution. Ozekhome said:
“My lord, we have come to court today to embrace Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR. Every war that is fought is always settled amicably on a round table. Both parties have expressed their desire to settle amicably based on the terms of settlement which the My Honourable Lord has been furnished with. We reached the agreement to enable both parties to continue with the good relationship that they have always had.” Responding, Tinubu’s counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), confirmed that his client had acceded to the out-of-court settlement.
“I align myself with the submissions and sentiments of my learned friend. I can also confirm that the terms of settlement which was drawn up on January 29 has been accepted by both parties.
I also want to appreciate my Lord for her patience all through the duration of the suit. I also appreciate the claimant, who magnanimously agreed to settle out of court,” Olanipekun said. Consequently, Justice Iyabo Akinkugbe adopted the terms of the settlement and acknowledged that it had been filed before the court. The terms of settlement are:
“That the defendant hereby makes a public and unequivocal retraction of the said documentary titled ‘Lion of Bourdilon’, which was broadcast on its television station (AIT), and shall further make the retraction, three times, once daily, on AIT.
“That the defendant hereby tenders an unreserved apology to the claimant for the broadcast of the documentary on its television station, AIT, and shall further tender an apology to the claimant on its television station, three times, once daily, on AIT.
“That the claimant and the defendant hereby wholly and completely withdraw their respective claims from the court. ” That the claimant and the defendant shall bear their respective costs in this suit. That these Terms of Settlement shall be made the judgement of this Honourable Court in this suit.’ Justice Akinkugbe had earlier referred the parties to the Case Management Conference, CMC, maintaining that if during the conference the parties could not reach a compromise, the case would be referred to a trial judge.
Vanguard
END
Hahaahaaa, you support me then no more sin abi? But what has been said and heard remains with the viewing public o