The Supreme Court of the state of New York has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, against SaharaReporters and its publisher, Omoyele Sowore.

Mr. Obanikoro, a former senator, and former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, alleged that Mr. Sowore and his media group committed libel by implicating him in the Ekiti State election rigging scandal and by allegedly reporting that he “killed many people in Lagos.”

The former minister argued in court that the reporting by Mr. Sowore and his website harmed his reputation in both Nigeria and the United States.

The former senator sued Mr. Sowore in New York, where the headquarters of SaharaReporters is located.
Mr. Sowore’s counsel, Robert Balin, moved for dismissal of the case on the grounds of non conveniens, meaning that another court – in this instance, a Nigerian court – would be better suited than the one in New York to hear the case.
The defendant argued that since the alleged offences were committed in Nigeria, a Nigerian court should ideally hear the case.

Mr. Sowore’s lawyers also argued that all the pertinent documents and witnesses are in Nigeria, not New York.
Justice Debra James subsequently granted the defendant’s motion to dismiss the case, saying the matter should be resolved in a Nigerian court.

The judge ruled that the case being ”highly political in nature, the Nigerian government has a compelling interest in resolving this matter through its judicial process.”

“Accordingly, it is ordered that the motion to dismiss this complaint on the ground that New York is an inconvenient forum is granted and the complaint is dismissed with costs and disbursements to defendants upon submission of an appropriate bill of costs,” the judge said in her ruling.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/222233-ekitigate-saharareporters-floors-former-minister-obanikoro-in-new-york-court.html

Wonderful.
How can anyone in their right frame of mind expect an AMERICAN COURT to precide over matters related to the nigerian judicial/political scene?

Some people are just lucky, not worth the position they occupy.

See how fast the case have gotten to supreme court. Something that will take Nigerian courts 25 years to do

Corrupt executive!!!! corrupt legislators!!!! Corrupt judiciary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK

Who is obanikoro? So he left Nigeria to file the case In New York. Both his lawyer and himself are very foolish. Common sense is not really common. No professionalism at all

okay

.

Just imagine, using our looted money to file a case in new york.

I wonder how much agege bread is right now

Justice Debra James subsequently granted the defendant’s motion to dismiss the case, saying the matter should be resolved in a Nigerian court.

Seems a straightforward jurisdictional point. You will think from the headline a ruling was made on the accuracy of the report.

Person come say make sowore no grow old quick with many trouble wey him dey face.

misleading headline

If Sahara reporters are really. Honest they should keep on the good work because the nigerian media has be infiltrated with propaganda and lies NTA and CO

SR do not take prisoners, Koro. Resolve your issue with Sowore in Nigeria .

hmmm

Kosi Koro...Kosi Ibo! Why loosing all the time? You even lost to Agbaje and made Jonathan to loose.

Saharareporters didn't Floor anyone here.

It case of Jurisdiction.

Even some people took Shell to court in the UK.Even if you stand a chance to win,no court will entertain the case except if it happened in their country.

Sorry Koro


Check my signature

koro come and file any case against SR here in Nigeria if you aint a thief as accused by SR.

4Play:


Seems a straightforward jurisdictional point. You will think from the headline a ruling was made on the accuracy of the report.

Obanikoro was still floored all the same. He instituted the case in New York to get a particular judgement but Saharareporters lawyer argued against hearing the case in the US instead of Nigeria and the court agreed. In fact, Obanikoro will be charged with the cost of the case once the defendant present the appropriate bill of cost to the court. Victory is victory no matter how you look at it.

wunmi590:
Just imagine, using our looted money to file a case in UK.

Hmmm... I never knew New York was in UK..

Dontripsy:
Wonderful.
How can anyone in their right frame of mind expect an AMERICAN COURT to precide over matters related to the nigerian judicial/political scene?

Some people are just lucky, not worth the position they occupy.

Because the defendant is in US, lives there most of the time, out of the jurisdiction of Nigerian court! Why are some Nigerians in Niger Delta sueing oil companies in UK?

Penisman:

Hmmm... I never knew New York was in UK..

Lol, it was a mistake, modified

Bolustic:
Court throws out Patience suit against SERAP

Now a New York Court has dismissed the defamation suit filed by Obanikoro against Omoyele Sowore.

God will not give you people peace till you vomit our money.

The owner of that Sahara reporters is very smart. I guess he must have For seen such incident will arise. No wonder he set up his office in the heart of the free world. That senator has more money than brains.
That guy has a razor sharp brain, shrewd and calculating. What if his office was in nigeria or any other african country?

Donald Trump should have included this Country in the Ban. So we don't have senseless people like this disgracing us everywhere.