The African Independent Television (AIT) and the national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu have reached an understanding to discontinue the ongoing N150 billion libel suit filed by the latter against the former over a documentary aired before the 2015 general elections.
This happened on Friday after Daar Communications, owners of AIT tendered a written apology to Tinubu before a Lagos High Court.
The apology letter reads in part: “Daar Communications Plc acknowledges that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is an outstanding political leader of unblemished character and integrity, as well as a leading public figure and opinion-moulder, who has made and continues to make immense contributions to the progress and development of the nation in general and Lagos State in particular.
“Daar Communications Plc admits that in airing the said documentary, it had no intention, whatsoever, to embarrass or diminish the high reputation of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu which it respects and attests to.”
On March 1, 2015, AIT aired a documentary titled, “Unmasking the Real Tinubu: The Lion of Bourdillon, showcasing various properties and companies across Lagos purportedly owned by the APC chieftain described as “Nigeria’s biggest landlord.”
The documentary also claimed that Tinubu was “charged with narcotics” in 1993 in the United States of America.
In response to the documentary, Tinubu wrote to Daar Communications, threatening to sue if the company did not stop the documentary which he deemed defamatory “in all respects.”
He also gave the company a 24-hour notice to apologise and retract the publication and demanded N20 billion as damages.
AIT ignored the former governor and continued to broadcast the documentary, and issued a statement describing his threats as “laughable.”
On March 5, Mr. Tinubu, through his lawyers, Wole Olanipekun and Tunji Abayomi, instituted a N150 billion suit against the station alleging that the documentary was libellous and aimed at tarnishing his image.
Eleven days later, Justice Iyabo Akinkugbe issued a restraining order barring AIT from further airing the documentary.
But on Friday, Mike Ozekhome, the TV station’s lawyer, and Wole Olanipekun, Tinubu’s lawyer, told the judge they had reached an out-of-court settlement.
“We have come here today that every war that is fought is finally resolved at the round table,
Parties have decided to settle amicably to enable both parties to continue with the good relationship that they have always had before the devil struck,” he said.
While adopting the terms of the settlement, dated January 29th, 2016, the judge ordered Daar Communications Plc to publicly and unequivocally retract the documentary thrice daily.
She also ordered the TV station to apologize to Mr. Tinubu.
