Justice Rowland Amaize of Federal High Court 2, Benin, Edo State fixed September 17, 2012 for judgment in the libel suit between Arik Air and The Punch newspapers.
The airline had dragged the newspaper to court and filed a N20 billion suit as a result of two reports published in the newspaper’s July 7 and 11, 2010 editions.
At the resumed hearing, the plaintiff, Arik Air’s lawyer, Dr. Alex Iziyon, SAN, and the defendant, Punch Newspapers, Mr. O. A Omonuwa, SAN, adopted the written addresses, which had earlier on been filed and exchanged.
Arik Air Chairman, Sir Joseph Arumemi- Ikhide is plaintiff witness (PW) 1, while Oliver Mayes, the airline’s foreign solicitor based in the United Kingdom is PW 2. On the other hand, an official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos office is Punch’s PW1, while one of its reporters, Akin Oyedele is PW2 and its company secretary is PW 3.
Justice Amaize took time to get further clarification on the matter before ruling that the case would be judged on September 17 this year.