Oyo Slams N20Bn Libel Suit Against Guardian Newpaper And Ladoja’s Aides
Oyo State Government has instituted , before an Ibadan High Court, libel suit against Guardian Newspapers and 3(three) aides of Senator Rahidi Ladoja namely Alhaji Lukman Akinpelu, A. O. Adepoju and Lanre Ogundipe. Also joined in the suit is the Editor of The Guardian Newspapers, Mr. Martins Oloja.
The action was on behalf of the state government by Otunba Olayinka Bolanle, an Ibadan based Legal Practitioner. The state government and Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the Governor of Oyo State are jointly claiming from the defendants jointly and severally the sum of N20 Billion Naira for libel contained at page 59 of The Guardian Newspapers of 
Wednesday , August 14, 2013 vide an advertorial entitled ” MISMANAGEMENT OF THE SCARCE FINANCIAL RESOURCES OF OYO STATE” wherein the Defendants falsely and maliciously stated stated of and concerning the Oyo State Government and Senator Abiola Ajimobi over the Construction of the flyover bridge at Mokola, Ibadan and Two 2) span 25 meters bridge over Ogunpa River at Bodija, Ibadan.
The Defendants falsely and maliciously alleged that ” the amount spent vis-avis the quality and quantity of job done is scandalous; to buttress our our point the bridge commissioned less than six months ago is already caving in at some points …”
The state government is also seeking from the court an order of injunction restraining the Defendants, their servants , agents and/ privies from further printing or causing to be printed and published or in any manner whatsoever from further circulating the said libel or similar libel concerning the State government and the Governor of the State.
Hearing date is yet to be fixed for the case as the High Court in state are presently on vacation.