A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has dismissed a longstanding defamation lawsuit filed by public relations consultant Olalekan Fatodu and his company, Leeman Communications Limited, against Nigerian journalist and activist Omoyele Sowore and Sahara Reporters Media Inc. The court also ordered Fatodu to pay ₦500,000 in costs.
Presiding Judge Justice Oyindamola Ogala struck out the case on June 17, ruling that the plaintiffs failed to prove that the allegedly defamatory publication by Sahara Reporters had been communicated to a third party, a key requirement in defamation cases.
The legal dispute began in 2017 when Fatodu sued Sowore and Sahara Reporters over investigative reports linking him and his company to allegedly fraudulent contracts awarded by the Office of the National Security Adviser during Col. Sambo Dasuki’s leadership. The defendants maintained that their publications were based on official records and public interest reporting.
This judgment marks a significant victory for press freedom advocates, reinforcing the right of journalists to report on public interest matters based on factual documentation. It follows a previous ruling where Fatodu was penalized for improperly joining Sahara Reporters Media Foundation in the suit.
The case gained further attention in 2020 when Fatodu accused Sowore of attempting to extort a ₦100 million bribe, a claim Sowore vehemently denied. With the case now dismissed and costs awarded for the second time, Sowore and Sahara Reporters have secured a notable legal win in their defense of investigative journalism and transparency.
