N150bn libel suit: Dokpesi apologises to Tinubu

DAAR Communications, owned by Chief Raymond Dokpesi,yesterday   tendered an unreserved apology to the national leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu over  the controversial  documentary ‘Lion of Bourdillon’  aired on African Independent Television (AIT)  ahead of last year’s general elections.

ýThe company  also  opted for an out of court settlement in a N150 billion  libel suit filed by Tinubu against him at  a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja.

Asiwaju Tinubu accepted the apology  as settlement for the libellous documentary.

Tinubu in filing the  N150 billion suit said the money represented aggravated and exemplary damages for the libellous documentary.

He  said that  the documentary, which  first  airing on March 1, 2015, was aimed at tarnishing his image.

 

 

DAAR communications  responded by filing  a counter claim of N200 billioný as aggravated, punitive and exemplary damages against the claimant.

The matter which came before Justice Iyabo Akinkugbe was later referred to  ýAlternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in December last year.

However,at the resumed proceedings yesterday, counsel to Dokpesi, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) informed the court of his client’s wish to embrace alternative dispute resolution.

He said:” Every war that is fought is always settled amicably at  a roundtable.

“Both parties have expressed their desire to settle amicably based on the terms of settlement which 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. We have driven the devil away with a spiritual “Koboko”, Ozekhome told the court.

Tinubu’s counsel, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) spoke in the same vein.

He said:”I align myself with the submissions and sentiments of my learned friend. I can also confirm that the terms of settlement which were  drawn up on the 29th of January have been accepted by both parties.”

He express   appreciation to the Justice Akinkugbe for  ”her patience all through the duration of the suit” and to Tinubu “who magnanimously agreed to settle out of court.”

Justice Akinkugbe adopted the terms of  settlement as judgement of the court having been filed before the court.

The terms of agreement adopted as judgement of the court include a retraction of the broadcast by AIT, an apology by AIT which should be aired three times, once daily on AIT, and that the claimant and the defendant shall bear their respective costs in the suit.

A copy of DAAR Communications apology letter entitled, “Retraction and Apology by DAAR communications PLC to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinuby” circulated to journalists reads: “Further to the terms of settlement in suit No: ID/196GCMW/2015 between Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and DAAR Communications Plc filed as a result of the broadcastý of a documentary titled, “Lion of Bourdillion” and which terms were adopted at the High Court of Lagos State on 5th February, 2016 as the judgement of the court, the defendant DAAR Communications Plc hereby retracts and apologises to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as follows:

“Daar Communications Plc, acknowledges that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is an outstanding political leader of unblemished character and integrity, as well as a leading public figure and opinion moulder who has made and continues to make immense, colossal and gargantuan contributions to the progress and development of the nation in general and Lagos State in particular.

 “Daar Communication Plc admits that in airing the said documentary, it had no intention whatsoever to embarrass or diminish the  high reputation of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu which it respects and attests to.

“Daar Communications Plc hereby makes a public and unequivocal retraction of the said documentary titled ‘Lion of Bourdilon’, which was broadcast on its television station, AIT.

“Daar Communications Plc hereby tenders unreserved apology to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the broadcast of the documentary on its television station, AIT.

“Daar Communications Plc prays that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will live long to make more enormous contributions to the advancement of our nation, Nigeria, Lagos State and the world at large.”