Libel: “Obasanjo wants Media Trust shut”
From Samson Ojo and Dele Ogunyomi, in Ibadan
An Oyo high court sitting in Ibadan was Wednesday told that President Olusegun Obasanjo has threatened to close down Media Trust, publishers of Daily and Weekly Trust newspapers.
At the resumed hearing of a N10 billion libel suit instituted by President Obasanjo’s son, Dr. Gbenga Obasanjo, against, the Daily Trust Editor, Mr. Is’haq Modibbo Kawu and a columnist, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, the defence counsel, Dr. Abdul Muyassir Ladan, informed the court that the plaintiff’s counsel, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), had told him that his (Afe’s) client’s plan was “to wipe out Media Trust Limited out of the planet.”
Dr. Ladan, while seeking an order for stay of proceedings in the matter pending the determination of an appeal in a similar matter before the court of Appeal, Ibadan, urged the trial judge, Hon. Justice Olu Ariwoola, to exercise his discretionary powers “both judicially and judiciously” in the overall interest of his clients.
The defence counsel insisted that the application for stay of proceedings in the high court became imperative because, “if the proceedings continued it will render the appeal nugatory.”
According to the defence counsel, “there are substantial issues that need to be decided upon by the court of Appeal, all of which are crucial to the determination of the jurisdiction of this honourable court relative to the final determination of the matter.”
In a sworn affidavit in support of the application, Dr. Ladan had argued that the defendants would suffer a great deal of damage and injustice if the application is not granted “as the matter would have been decided while the appeal is pending on issues crucial to the matter before the court.”
Similarly, he posited that “the plaintiff would suffer no damage if the justice of the case is done by this honourable court as the court of Appeal would have had an opportunity to determine important parts and portions of the merit of the case before this honourable court.”
However, Mr. Seeni Okunloye (SAN), from Afe Babalola’s Chambers, while opposing the application, denied the alleged threat by the President to shut down Media Trust organisation, saying that it was a mere speculation.
The plaintiff’s counsel faulted the application for a stay of proceedings which he said had not shown that the defence had a valid appeal and urged the court to continue with the trial.
Meanwhile, Justice Ariwoola has adjourned the case to Tuesday, December 7, when he is expected to rule on whether or not to grant the application.
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