Court Stops AIT Documentaries Against Tinubu; Institutes N150bn Libel Suit

A Lagos High court on Monday restrained the Africa Independent Television, AIT, from broadcasting a documentary titled "Lion of Bourdillion" on a former Governor of Lagos State, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu. The said documentary, which the TV station began airing on March 1, 2015, chronicled series of alleged financial misconduct by a former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. But Justice Iyabo Akinkugbe ordered the TV station to stop broadcasting the documentary forthwith pending the determination of a suit filed against the airing of the documentary. Justice Olamide Akinkugbe granted the order while ruling on an exparte motion filed by the former governor through his counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN). He said the order would last pending the hearing and determination of the interlocutory application filed by the applicant. Tinubu, through his lawyer, Chief Olanipekun, instituted N150 billion suit against AIT for airing the documentary, alleging it was libelous and aimed at tarnishing his image. The APC stalwart had through an ex-parte motion sought an order of interim injunction restraining AIT from producing or continuing to broadcast, airing, or continuing to reproduce the documentary. The applicant also sought to restrain the TV station from continuing the broadcast of the documentary, which it started airing on March 1, 2015 and had been repeating same daily, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice dated March 5, 2015. Chief Olanipekun sought to move the interlocutory application when hearing commenced on the application he filed on behalf of his client, Asiwaju Tinubu. But counsel to AIT, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) objected to the moving of the application and pleaded for more time to respond to same. He told the court that his earlier reply was to the suit initially filed by one Dr. Tunji Abayomi on behalf of Asiwaju Tinubu. Chief Olanipekun then made an oral application in which he prayed the court to grant an interim order restraining AIT from further airing the contentious documentary.