Society Gists

An Ogun State High Court sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, on Friday, delivered a landmark judgment against the Gbengande of Ososa Ijebu, Oba Adetoye Alatishe, awarding N500 million in damages for defaming the character and integrity of renowned industrialist and Chairman of Rite Foods, Dr. Sulaiman Adegunwa.

Presided over by Justice E. Osinuga, the court also mandated the traditional ruler to publish a formal apology and retraction in three national newspapers—The PUNCH, The Nation, and This Day—following a defamatory petition letter he reportedly addressed to former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, on January 7, 2019.

The suit, registered as 4CJ/205/19 and filed on November 25, 2019, stemmed from what Dr. Adegunwa described as “defaming and defamatory statements” contained in the monarch’s petition, which was later published in the City People magazine (August 7, 2019 edition) and Obanta Newsday (August 2019 edition).

Despite efforts by Dr. Adegunwa’s legal team to settle the matter amicably by requesting a retraction and public apology from the monarch, Oba Alatishe reportedly refused to comply—prompting the industrialist to seek redress in court.

In her judgment, Justice Osinuga faulted the monarch’s decision to act on hearsay without credible evidence, noting, “When the Kabiyesi was asked how he came about the information contained in the letter, he said some people told him, yet Kabiyesi was not ready to disclose these people.”

The court found the allegations against Dr. Adegunwa to be unsubstantiated and damaging to his reputation as a respected industrialist and philanthropist.

In addition to the N500 million in damages, the court awarded N500,000 as cost of litigation and granted a perpetual injunction restraining Oba Alatishe from making further defamatory statements against Dr. Adegunwa.

Dr. Adegunwa had originally sought N5 billion in exemplary damages and an injunction to prevent the monarch from any further libelous publications. He described the defamatory content as a calculated attack on his character, which had impacted both his business and personal reputation.

This judgment underscores the Nigerian judiciary’s stance on defamation and the consequences of making unfounded allegations, regardless of status or title.