A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has dismissed a long-standing defamation lawsuit instituted by Mr. Olalekan Fatodu and his company, Leeman Communications Limited, against Nigerian activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, and Sahara Reporters Media Inc., citing a lack of proof of publication to a third party as required by law.

The suit had sought, among other reliefs, a court declaration that certain publications made by the defendants were “false, malicious, injurious and therefore libelous,” along with a retraction, public apology, perpetual injunction, and a combined sum of N101 million in damages and legal costs.

However, in a judgment delivered on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, Justice Oyindamola Ogala struck out the case, declaring that the claimants failed to substantiate their allegations with credible evidence.

Stanley Imhanruor Esq, Principal Partner at PRIMEVIEW, who commenced the case while at Femi Falana’s Chambers, as counsel for Sowore and SaharaReporters, expressed satisfaction with the ruling.

He noted that the claimants failed to prove publication of the alleged libellous subject matter, adding that the claimants did not provide evidence demonstrating that the libellous content was communicated to a third party.

Culled Sahara Reporters