E. O. ADEKOLU- JOHN vs. SAA DITTOH [2011]DLCA3123

Date	2011-05-27
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO. H1/20/2011
Citation No.	[2011]DLCA3123

MARIAMA OWUSU (MISS) J.A. (PRESIDING)

F.G. KORBIEH J.A.

IRENE C. DANQUAH (MS.) J.A.

[2011]DLCA3123
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >E. O. ADEKOLU- JOHN<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>SAA DITTOH<o:p></o:p>[COURT OF APPEAL, KUMASI]<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>CIVIL APPEAL NO. H1/20/2011&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;DATED: 27TH MAY, 2011<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border-top:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:
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</div>CORAM:<o:p></o:p>MARIAMA OWUSU (MISS) J.A. (PRESIDING),
F.G. KORBIEH J.A., IRENE C. DANQUAH (MS.) J.A.<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border-top:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
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mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in">JUDGEMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>F.G.
KORBIEH, J.A.&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>This is a case between two dons, both
of the University for Development (which is hereinafter referred to as the
U.D.S. or the university) and both of whom were members of the Academic Board
of the university at all material times. The case of the plaintiff/appellant
(hereinafter only referred to as the appellant) before the trial High Court in
Tamale may be summarized as follows: he was at all material times a Professor
of Medicine; on or about the 1/6/2009 the defendant/respondent (hereinafter
only referred to as the respondent) who was at all material times also a
professor at the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, wrote and circulated
the following words about him to several people including the Vice Chancellor
of the U.D.S., the Acting Registrar of the university, one Francis Zimmaleh
Abudu and others:<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “P/S: I have heard of the predicament
of my good friend, Professor Adekolu-John. I know all the time that he did not
belong to where he was forcing himself. They needed him to do a specific dirty
job and he has finished with it so he must be dumped. I assure all boot lickers
and those whose gods are their stomachs that when they finish with you, you
will equally be dumped like packs of rotten mangoes.” <o:p></o:p>Following this event, the appellant
initiated an action in the High Court, Tamale complaining that the words were
defamatory of him and asking that court for the following reliefs:<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:39.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;
text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The
sum of GH¢100,000.00 as general damages for libel;<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:39.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;
text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Perpetual
injunction restraining the respondent from further publication of the libelous
material against the appellant;<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:39.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;
text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
An
order for an unqualified apology by the respondent and a retraction by him of
the libelous statements made by him against the appellant; and <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:39.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;
text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Substantial
damages.<o:p></o:p>