PRINCE PAUL OMOMZUAWO & ANOR v. CHIEF YAKUBU UGBODAGA (JP) & ORS.
March 29, 2025HON. DICKSON FRANK ABASIEKONG v. PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY AKWA IBOM STATE & ORS
March 29, 2025Legalpedia Citation: (2021-03) Legalpedia 71288 (CA)
In the Court of Appeal
HOLDEN AT LAGOS
Wed Mar 17, 2021
Suit Number: CA/C/277/2015
CORAM
MOJEED ADEKUNLE OWOADE, JUSTICE COURT OF APPEAL
JAMES SHEHU ABIRIYI, JUSTICE COURT OF APPEAL
MUHAMMED LAWAL SHUAIBU, MUHAMMED LAWAL SHUAIBU
PARTIES
APPELLANTS
MR. NTIENYONG UDO AKPAETOK
RESPONDENTS
AREA(S) OF LAW
APPEAL, LAW OF EVIDENCE, LAW OF TORT, PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
SUMMARY OF FACTS
The Plaintiff/Appellant before the High Court of Akwa Ibom State claimed against the Defendant/Respondent the sum of N10 million Naira damages for slander, an apology to him and an injunction restraining the Respondent from further publishing the slander.
The case of the Appellant was that the Respondent, on or about 9th August, 2012, knowing that, he (Appellant) was about to marry went about the village and its environs far and wide maliciously and falsely uttered slanderous words against him. The Respondent denied uttering those words at any time or any word against the Appellant, which was reckless or malicious.
After considering the evidence adduced by both parties and addresses of their counsel, the Court below dismissed the claim of the Appellant, hence the instant appeal.
HELD
Appeal Dismissed
ISSUES
Whether the Court was right in dismissing the case of the claimant/appellant on the ground that the claimant/appellant failed to prove publication of the alleged slanderous words when in fact the claimant/ appellant and his witness in their evidence proved publication?”
RATIONES DECIDENDI
ACTION FOR SLANDER – REQUIREMENT TO SUCCEED IN AN ACTION FOR SLANDER WHERE THE WORDS COMPLAINED OF WERE NOT UTTERED IN ENGLISH
“To succeed in an action for slander where the words complained of were not uttered in English;
1) The plaintiff must prove that the actual words were published to a person other than the plaintiff.
2) Prove that the translation to English was by a sworn interpreter as an expert witness. The sworn interpreter is to prove the correctness of the translation of the foreign language to English. The two requirements above must co-exist at the same time and must also be pleaded and satisfied before a plaintiff can succeed in an action in slander as in this case. Where the plaintiff is unable to prove any of these ingredients as required by law, his case remains unproven. See Oruwari v. Osler (2012) LPELR – 19764 p.40-41 per Chukwumah-Eneh, JSC. PER J. S. ABIRIYI, J.C.A.
ACTION FOR SLANDER – DUTY OF A PLAINTIFF IN AN ACTION FOR SLANDER
“A plaintiff, according to the law, must in his statement of claim aver all material facts in a case of slander, the place where the slander was uttered in order to enable the defendant know exactly the case he has to meet. See Ezomo v. Oyakhire (1985) LPELR – 1216 SC p.7-8 per Aniagoh, JSC. PER J. S. ABIRIYI, J.C.A.
CASES CITED
Not Available
STATUTES REFERRED TO
Not Available
