Tinubu’s N150bn AIT suit continues on Wednesday

Hearing in the N150 billion libel suit filed by Bola Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) feagainst DAAR Communications, owners of Africa Independent Television (AIT), has been fixed for Wednesday, May 27.

Raymond Dokpesi, chairman of the broadcast outfit, is one of the witnesses to testify at the resumed hearing of the suit.

Others listed to testify against Tinubu are Namure Edoimioya, Medan Tenke, Ajibola Adewusi, Olumide Idowu, Stanley Odidi, and Stanley Bassey.

Tinubu instituted the suit against Daar Communications Plc, owners of AIT, over the documentary titled Lion of Bourdilion’, claiming it was libellous and aimed at tarnishing his image.

However, in a counter-claim filed by AIT on Tuesday, the defendant denied the allegations as contained in the claimant’s amended statement of claim.

In his statement of oath, Dokpesi averred that Tinubu’s claim was founded on a non-existent ground because the said documentary, which the station began airing on March 1, was not titled The Lion of Bourdilon“, but Unmasking the Real Tinubu.

He also averred that the documentary, in his honest opinion, was not false and was not aired out of malice to the person of the claimant.

Dokpesi said AIT, as a member of the fourth estate of the realm, was empowered by Section 22 of the Constitution to hold those in government accountable and responsible to the people of Nigeria at all times.

He further averred that the contents of the documentary were facts which had been in the public domain for over two decades.

According to him, these were published independently prior to the broadcast and had remained unchallenged till date.

Justice Iyabo Akinkugbe of an Ikeja High Court fixed hearing for Wednesday, May 27.