Others • Created March 15, 2015 04:00

BM Dzukogi wins defamation suit against Amusa Lasis, Guardian

Since 2012, Mr Lasisi, a student of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, had launched a smear campaign against the person of Mr. Dzukogi accusing him of, among other things, embezzling the N10 million donated by the Niger State Government to the Association of Nigerian Authors for the publication of the Nigerian Writers Series.Despite evidence […]

BM Dzukogi wins defamation suit against Amusa Lasis, Guardian
BM Dzukogi wins defamation suit against Amusa Lasis, Guardian

Since 2012, Mr Lasisi, a student of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, had launched a smear campaign against the person of Mr. Dzukogi accusing him of, among other things, embezzling the N10 million donated by the Niger State Government to the Association of Nigerian Authors for the publication of the Nigerian Writers Series.
Despite evidence to the contrary, Mr. Lasisi continued to publish articles defaming Mal. Dzukogi in newspapers such as the Guardian, and some online platforms. He also wrote damaging letters to individuals and organisations having dealings with Mal Dzukogi.
In a judgment delivered by Justice Idris MJ Evuti of High Court 4 Minna Court awarded Mal Dzukogi N20 million in damages “Judgment is hereby entered in favour of the plaintiff against the defendants in the total sum of Twenty Million and twenty thousand Naira as follows: The 1st defendant, Mr. Lasisi Amusa is ordered to pay to the judgment/creditor the sum of Five Million while the 2nd judgment/debtor, The Guardian Newspapers to pay to the judgment/creditor the sum of Fifteen Million and Ten thousand Naira. The total of Twenty Million Naira being for damages. ”
The Guardian is found culpable for publishing one of Mr. Lasisi’s articles on the 27th October, 2013 and the two defendants have been ordered to publish an apology to Mal. Dzukogi in a national daily no more than a month after the judgment is passed.
A relieved Mal. Dzukogi took to his Facebook account to share the news with his friends and supporters, in which he confessed he was baffled by the motives of Mr. Lasisi of attacking his person for no known reason..

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