*.. It's Victory For Fearless Sports Reportage - Amaechi Agbo*

An FCT Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja has quashed the defamation suit filed by the Head of International Competition in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Miss Ruth David against Best Choice Sports Publisher/Managing Editor, Mr Amaechi Agbo.

The alleged defamation case which was instituted by Ms David since December 2019 was finally laid to rest today, June 25, 2024.

In the suit number CV/546/2019 filed on December 12, 2019, presiding Justice O. A Adeniyi averred that the claimant failed to prove her case of defamation and therefore dismissed the suit for lack of merit. 

Ruth David took Best Choice Sports Publisher/Managing Editor Mr Amaechi Agbo to the FCT High Court following the publications of the following stores headlined:

*REVEALED: Ruth David Is The Nemesis Of Women Football In Nigeria*

*Unveiling The Powerful Woman In NFF Destroying Nigeria Female Football (PART 1 &2)*

Speaking with journalists who were at the court to witness the judgement, the defendant's lead counsel, Barrister Nnaemeka Eias Duhu said that the judgement was a triumph for rule of law and freedom of expression and of the press. 

He noted that the ruling has laid to rest the litigation that has lasted for five years unless the claimant opts for an appeal. 

“The judgment of the FCT High Court sitting in Maitama, today the 25th day of June, 2024 which finally laid to rest Suit No. CV/546/2019 Between: Ruth David v. Amaechi Agbo is a welcome development and a big win for the rule of law, freedom of expression and of course, press freedom. 

“As a lawyer and an officer in the temple of justice, I am highly elated by the pronouncement of my Lord, which firmly upheld the trite position of the law that in a defamation suit, it is not the claimant's opinion about the alleged defamatory publication that matters, but the opinion of a third party who, as a witness before the court, agrees that an alleged defamatory publication is indeed, defamatory.

"The Claimant did not satisfy the law and His Lordship, in his wisdom and in line with the law, agreed with the defence that the suit lacked merit.

“By this dismissal, the matter is now Res judicata, meaning that it is settled once and for all, except of course if the claimant decides to appeal the judgment.

“In any case, five years battle in court over this matter has come to an end, for now and it is something good for the journalism profession and for all of us as free citizens of Nigeria.

"It is gratifying to, once again say, without any fear of contradiction that the court indeed, is the last hope for the common man," Barrister Duhu said. 

Reacting to the  judgement, the Publisher/Managing Editor of Best Choice Sports, Mr Amaechi Agbo said that the ruling was victory for fearless journalism and sports reportage in the country.

Mr Agbo who has cut his teeth in the Journalism profession in Nigeria, noted that the suit, his first as a journalist since over 15 years of practice, said it would further solidify his resoluteness in the profession 

“This is victory for fearless sports reportage and free  journalism in Nigeria particularly the FCT where the media have become an endangered species with regular frivolous law suits such as this. I am very elated and must appreciate my lawyer, Barr Nnaemeka Elias Duhu of Bulwark Law Partners, 3rd Floor, Federal Mortgage Bank Building, 13 Ikeja Street, off Oyo Street, Area 2, Garki Abuja for his doggedness in this fight  He is a resolute, fearless, thorough and intelligent lawyer. 

"This judgement will rekindled my resolute determination to continue to practice my profession as is ethically and professionally permissible. This is a victory against unprovoked intimidation, reoccurring legal harassment against journalists and untamed campaign against the media," Mr Agbo said. 

It could be recalled that this is not the first time Miss Ruth David is losing a defamation case against Abuja-based Journalists. On March 6, 2023, Ms David also lost similar case against BSN Sports.