Oando Sues NewsCentral Africa and Naij.Com for Defamation Over False Reports on Oil Operations
Oando PLC (“Oando”) and its Principals, have instituted legal action against two (2) online media platforms, Newscentral Africa and Naij.Com Limited (the “Defendants”) for exemplary damages in respect of unsubstantiated defamatory statements and publications made against them in two separate suits marked Suit No. LD/ADR/5566/2024 (1) Oando Plc (2) Mr. Jubril Adewale Tinubu, CON and (3) Mr Godwin Omamofe Boyo v NewsCentral Africa and Suit No. LD/ADR/5567/2024 (1) Oando Plc (2) Mr. Jubril Adewale Tinubu, CON v Naij.Com Media Ltd & Zainab Iwayemi, pending before the High Court of Lagos State.
The defamatory statements were published by the Defendants claiming that Oando and its Principals are shareholders and directors respectively, of Ras Hanzir Oil Terminal Limited; an alleged oil blending plant in Malta.
Oando and its Principals are also praying the Court for an interlocutory order, restraining the Defendants from further publishing libelous reports against them pending the determination of the substantive suits.
The applications state in part (on the grounds for seeking the court’s intervention in Suit No. LD/ADR/5567/2024) that:
‘On Sunday, 28 July 2024, the 1st Defendant/Respondent (‘Defendant’), through its online news publication medium known as Legit.ng published an article authored by the 2nd Defendant, titled “Oando Opens Up on Importing Dirty Fuel Amid Dangote, NNPC Saga” (the initial article). This news article was published via the uniform resource locator (URL): https://www.legit.ng/business-economy/energy/1604804-oando-opens-importing-dirty-fuel-dangote-nnpc-saga/.’
‘The 2nd Defendant’s initial article was published on the 1st Defendant’s Legit.ng website and spread through Legit.ng’s social media pages on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), and many other social media platforms for widespread viewing of the general public. The initial article which was in wide circulation to the members of the public, also had a rider that “The Chief Executive of Oando [the 2nd Claimant herein] said that the country would continue importing fuel to stop Dangote monopoly”.’
Upon receiving the 1st Claimant’s Cease and Desist letter dated 31 July 2024 stating that:
“Both the headline and rider of the initial article are inaccurate, misleading, and blatantly false, as they clearly contain untruthful statements which have had a damaging effect on the 1st Claimant/Applicant’s (‘Claimant’) business undertakings, its management, and its brand, as well as the 2nd Claimant’s reputation”,
the 2nd Defendant amended the libelous article, but the Defendants failed to comply with the terms of the Cease and Desist letter.’
The Statement of Claim filed in the suits also state that ‘The 2nd Claimant’s reputation has been tarnished in the estimation of right-thinking members of the public, including the 1st Claimant’s investors and potential investors.’
At a preliminary hearing held before Hon.Justice Oyebanji; a vacation judge at the High Court of Lagos State, TBS on Monday, the 26th day of August, 2024 counsel to the Claimants (Folabi Kuti SAN with Merit Odum Esq. and Francis Obiejesi Esq) moved an application for leave to hear the interlocutory applications before the court during the ongoing court vacation.
By a bench ruling of the Court made on the same day, the Court granted leave setting down the interlocutory applications for hearing during the ongoing Court vacation, whilst further directing that the defendants be immediately put on notice of the pending interlocutory application. The two suits have now been adjourned to Wednesday, the 4th day of September, 2024
