.By Agbelusi Ganiyu
The High Court sitting in Idanre,Ondo State has ordered Mr. Zadox Oluwarotimi Akintoye to pay the sum of #25million as damages for the libelous publications he made against His Imperial Majesty, Oba (Dr) Frederick Adegunle Aroloye, Arubiefin IV, (JP) OFR, Owa of Idanre Kingdom and Paramount ruler of Idanre Land.
The Judge also ordered him to make a retraction of his publication through the Facebook medium where he first made the libelous publications.
In his ruling, the Judge held that it was wrong for Mr. Zadox Oluwarotimi Akintoye to have relied on mere hearsay before making such publications which were injurious to the personalities of the monarch.
He said that Zadox Oluwarotimi Akintoye claimed that he was not in Alade Idanre or Odode Idanre on the day of the incidents but acted and wrote the offensive publications based on what his wife told him whereas his wife, who stood in the witness box, admitted that she was not in Owa’s Palace but was only told what allegedly happened there.
Mr. Zadox Oluwarotimi Akintoye and his lawyer were not in Court to hear the judgement which took over two hours during which the various statements and evidence presented by the contending parties were meticulously reviewed by the Judge.
Along the line, the Presiding Judge noted that the defendant, Mr. Zadox Oluwarotimi Akintoye admitted that he published the libelous publications and hence he cited authorities to buttress his stand, saying, “Fact admitted needs no more proof”
The Judge also noted that the same dress presented as exhibit as having been torn earlier during the alleged attack at Alade Idanre was shown in the photograph presented as exhibit by one of the defendant’s witnesses neatly worn by one of the people alleged to have been rough handled in the palace of Aladeokun without any trace of manhandling or dirt.
Meanwhile, many of the people who were in the Court, especially the chiefs noted the brilliance and the versatility of Lawyer Olaleye Akintububo who handled the legal tussle for the claimant, Owa of Idanre Kingdom…
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