Featured
Defamatory: Victory For Press Freedom As BSN Sports Humiliates NFF’s Ruth David In Court
By Niyi Busari
The Acting Director of Competition, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ruth David, today (Monday) lost its defamatory case against BSN Sports filed at the FCT High Court, Gwagwalada over a publication titled “U20 FIFA World Cup – Allowance Scandal Hits Falconets Camp,” BSNSports.com.ng can report.
In 2018, two months after the publication, Ruth David sued BSN Sports in the suit number CV/1975/2019 for defamation adding that the publication is aimed at disparaging her personality. She however, prayed that the court asked the defendant to pay the sum of Twenty million naira (N20m).
BSN Sports on 4th August, 2018 few weeks after the Nigeria U20 women’s team, the Falconets lost out at the world Cup wrote the story that the federation failed to pay the players and officials match bonuses and allowance for the African qualifiers and 10-day camping in Austria.
Ruth David in her written address before the court showing the payment of the players and officials of the team for allowance received for one win and one draw at the World Cup. The payment of the two-match allowance according to the exhibit was paid on 4th October, 2018 while the story was published two months (August 2018) before the purported payment. More so, the publication dwelled on the non-payment of the six matches the team played during the African Qualifiers where they won five games and drew one.
Defendant lawyer, Barrister Dr. Celsus Ukpong (esq) stated unequivocally that the publication was not aimed at Ruth David but the NFF who didn’t see the publication as defamatory and reason they refused to be joined in the case.
Not being convinced by the plaintiff claims as she failed to provide enough evidence and witness to back her claims, the judge on Monday 6th March, 2023 said the evidences provided by the defendant were overwhelming that the publication was not libellous nor defamatory.
Justice A.I Akobi, therefore threw out the case and ruled in favour of Mr. Niyi Busari, Publisher BSN Sports.
Entertainments
Amb. Dr. Queen Blessing Ebigieson, sworn in as new president of AMP
Joel Ajayi
Nollywood’s premier guild, Association of Movie Producers, (AMP), has recently sworn in her immediate past Vice President, Amb. Dr Queen Blessing Ebigieson, as the substantive president of the association. This is following the demise of Ms Peace Anyiam-Osigwe MFR, earlier in the year and in respect of the associations constitutional provision which states that the vice president shall complete the tenure of the president in the event of the president’s permanent relocation from Lagos, impeachment or death.
In a statement Signed on Sunday in Abuja by the National Publicity Secretary of Association Nzeh Frankwhite revealed that official swearing in of the new president was held on 17th of March 2023 at the association’s national secretariat in Surulere, Lagos.
The swearing in/oat taking was administered by Barrister Nobert Ajaegbu under the supervision of the association’s Board of Trustees Chairman, Olorogun Zeb Ejiro and witnessed by some prominent stakeholders of the association.
The short ceremony was also transmitted live on zoom for the virtual participation benefit of numerous members across the globe
In her acceptance speech, the new president promised to do her best not to let down the memory of late madam Peace Anyiam-Osigwe MFR and her numerous colleagues who have reposed this confidence in her, the new president, however called for the total cooperation of all, since she can do nothing without their support.
She thanked all her colleagues from far and near and promise to ensure the association and its members will witness a season of greater glory under her watch
Other stakeholders that were present at the event were;
Francis Onwochei, Keppy Ekpeyong, Hope Opara, Lilian Ama-Aluko, Joe Dudun, Baba Agba, Tony Chukwuma, Franca Brown, Emmanuel Ogugua, Emeka Ossai, Uncle Dele Osawe, Moji Oyetayo, Favour Benson etc.
The new president has since resumed in her new role as the leader of the association in Nigeria. Congratulation!
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