Court Stops AIT From Airing The 'Lion of Bourdillon' Documentary

Justice Iyabo Akinkugbe of the Ikeja Lagos High court today granted an interim order restraining the Africa Independent Television, AIT from broadcasting a documentary on former Lagos Governor, Ahmed Bola Tinubu titled ‘Lion of Bourdillion.’

Tinubu through his lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, had instituted a ₦150 billion suit against AIT alleging that the documentary was libelous and aimed at tarnishing his image.

The national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC through an ex-parte motion sought an order of interim injunction restraining AIT whether by itself, agents, privies and or other persons from producing or continuing to broadcast, airing, or continuing to reproduce a documentary.

The motion also sought to restrain the TV station from continuing the broadcast of the documentary, which it started airing on March 1st and had been repeating daily, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice dated March 5, 2015.

The motion further noted that damages would not adequately compensate applicant/claimant if the ex-parte order was not granted and prayed that the rest of the suit may be extinguished if the ex-parte order was not granted.

It also noted that there was real, imminent and urgent threat and danger of continuing to decimate the person and integrity of Tinubu by AIT by continuing to air the “offensive” broadcast if the ex-parte motion was not granted.

At today’s proceeding, Olanipekun had sought to move the interlocutory application but counsel to AIT, Mike Ozekhome objected the move arguing that he had not responded to the application.

He noted that his earlier reply was to the suit initially filed by one Tunji Abayomi on behalf of Tinubu.

As a result of Ozekhome’s request, Olanipekun then asked the court to grant an interim order restraining AIT from airing the contentious documentary.

Although Ozekhome objected to the application Justice Akinkugbe upheld the application.

She said: "The defendant is hereby restrained from further airing, publishing or disseminating broadcasting the documentary “Lion of Bourdilion”, pending the determination of the interlocutory application."

The matter was subsequently adjourned to March 20, for argument on the substantive application.