A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja yesterday restrained the Africa Independent Television (AIT) from further broadcasting a documentary entitled: ‘Lion of Bourdillion’, which allegedly focused on former governor of the state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Tinubu, who is also the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had through his lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), instituted a N150 billion suit against AIT, alleging that the documentary was libellous and aimed at tarnishing his image.
At the hearing of the suit yesterday, Justice Iyabo Akinkugbe, granted an oral application by Tinubu’s lawyer, ordering the television station to stop further “airing, publishing, disseminating or broadcasting the documentary ‘Lion of Bourdillion’, pending the determination of the interlocutory application.”
The former governor had, through an ex-parte motion, sought an order of interim injunction restraining AIT from continuing to broadcast the documentary, which came on air on March 1 and was being repeated on a daily basis, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice dated March 5.
The motion said damages would not adequately compensate the applicant/claimant if the ex-parte order was not granted.
It added that there was real, imminent and urgent threat and danger of continuing to decimate the person and integrity of Tinubu by AIT by continuing to air the ‘offensive’ broadcast if the ex-parte motion was not granted.
At yesterday’s proceeding, Olanipekun sought to move the interlocutory application but was opposed to by counsel to AIT, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), on the grounds that the respondent had not responded to the application.
Ozekhome said he was only served the application last Thursday and needed time to respond in the interest of fair hearing.
He asked for a short adjournment to file his response, an application the court granted.
Following the development, Olanipekun made an oral application asking the court to grant an interim order restraining AIT from airing the contentious documentary.
Although AIT’s counsel (Ozekhome) objected to the application, Justice Akinkugbe upheld it, saying: “The defendant is hereby restrained from further airing, publishing or disseminating, broadcasting the documentary ‘Lion of Bourdillion’, pending the determination of the interlocutory application.”
The court subsequently adjourned till March 20 for argument on the interlocutory application.
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