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More Interesting News via the eyes of Punch Metro:
An Akure High Court in a judgment delivered on Friday, established that a newspaper defamed a popular prophet and church founder in Akure, but dismissed the suit on the grounds of “qualified privilege.”
Justice David Kolawole described as malicious the publication which described the founder Success Gate Mission, Rev. Ademisokun Turton, as a ritual murderer.
Kolawole held that the report, which was published in the Ondo State-owned Hope newspaper that portrayed the cleric as a person who engaged in rituals, was not only inaccurate but meant to defame the character of the prophet.
The court did not, however, award any damage to the prophet because the newspaper outfit had published another report which exonerated him without the prompting of the plaintiff.
Turton had, through his counsel, sued the newspaper seeking a declaration that the publication describing him as a ritualist was a defamation of his character and a calculated attempt to smear his name.
The suit filed in 2010 was sequel to a publication by the newspaper that the prophet was charged with ritual murder when in actual fact he was charged with the killing of one Olajide Atilola.
Turton then demanded an order of perpetual injunction restraining the outfit from publishing damaging stories about him and asked for N100m.
The judge said there was a difference between ritual murder and murder and that the prophet was only charged with the latter.
Kolawole said, “It is legitimate to ask whether there is any difference between being charged with murder or murder for ritual purpose.
“For a clergyman to be accused of killing for ritual purpose, it carries a heavier connotation than when he is accused of killing for some other purpose.
“Because of this, I am prepared to accept that the report that the plaintiff was charged for ritual murder is false and lacks accuracy,” the judge added.
However, the court held that since the newspaper has moral and legal right to report to the members of the public what is going on in the public and that the plaintiff did not establish malice on the part of the newspaper.
The judge, consequently, dismissed the case and awarded N5, 000 against the plaintiff.
Turton had, through his counsel, sued the newspaper seeking a declaration that the publication describing him as a ritualist was a defamation of his character and a calculated attempt to smear his name.
The suit filed in 2010 was sequel to a publication by the newspaper that the prophet was charged with ritual murder when in actual fact he was charged with the killing of one Olajide Atilola.
Turton then demanded an order of perpetual injunction restraining the outfit from publishing damaging stories about him and asked for N100m.
The judge said there was a difference between ritual murder and murder and that the prophet was only charged with the latter.
Kolawole said, “It is legitimate to ask whether there is any difference between being charged with murder or murder for ritual purpose.
“For a clergyman to be accused of killing for ritual purpose, it carries a heavier connotation than when he is accused of killing for some other purpose.
“Because of this, I am prepared to accept that the report that the plaintiff was charged for ritual murder is false and lacks accuracy,” the judge added.
However, the court held that since the newspaper has moral and legal right to report to the members of the public what is going on in the public and that the plaintiff did not establish malice on the part of the newspaper.
The judge, consequently, dismissed the case and awarded N5, 000 against the plaintiff.
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Simply Cheska...
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