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The Sokoto State High Court presided by Justice Umar Dogondaji has dismissed N50 million defamation suit filed against Leadership and its reporter Sharfadeen Sidi  Umar.

The suit was filed 2016 by the former chairman Nigeria Union of Journalists Sokoto chapter Mr Labaran Lumun Dundaye having Leadership Newspaper as the first defendant and its  Hausa reporter as second defendant.

Labaran said in 2012 and  2015 NUJ election which he emerged as a chairman the leadership reporter quoted  reported that he is incompetent to assume the position.

Among other things demanded by the former NUJ chairman are N50million, apology to be published in three Nigeria dailies including leadership newspaper.

 Ruling on the suit Justice Dogondaji affirmed that the plaintiff failed to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt therefore dismissed it.

The plaintiff in 2016 filed the case against leadership newspaper group limited and its reporter  Sharafdeen sidi umaru Dogondaji for defamation of character.

Justice Dogondaji said the two  witnesses  called by plaintiff which testified against the defendants did not prove his case beyond reasonable doubt that the plaintiff was defamed 

Reacting the Lawyers to the first and second defendants Barrister Simon Enojo King hailed  the judgement while the lawyer to the plaintiff  Barrister Muhammed Adeleleke was dissatisfied with the judgement saying all evidences including the three publications were brought before the court as well as the report of the ethics and disciplinary committee of the NUJ which confirmed the defamation of character. .   

   Mohammed Adeleke said even a witness from the leadership newspaper group limited Al-amin chiroma told the court that the three publications are defamation of character.   

 Adeleleke further told journalists that his client has directed him to proceed on appeal against the judgement