CharlyBoy took National Mirror to court on his Birthday

      The noise of Charlyboy’s 61st birthday anniversary raid the air as bloggers, news websites, twitter, radio stations and TV stations went agog with comments from his fans and well wishers, congratulating him for being consistent with his enigmatic character as well as his selfless services towards the rehabilitation of the downtrodden. Our correspondent had learnt that well over 10 thousand birthday messages were received by the Areafada who sometimes twitted back at his followers in acknowledgment of their messages. The same goes with Facebook and on the Charlyboy Websites.



However, Charlyboy had yet shocked his fans by dragging National Mirror to court for Libel on the day many had thought he would be celebrating with family and friends. Many of his fans had expressed surprise over the decision of the Areafada to have sued National Mirror on his birthday, but like it is generally believed, “with the Areafada, anything is possible”.

It would be recalled that National Mirror and daily independent had published a story on Saturday, the 28th May, 2012 claiming that the former had  admitted being gay and Head of the Nigerian Illuminati. Infuriated by the story, the Areafada had asked his lawyer and his press Secretary to write to National Mirror and Daily Independent for a total retraction of the story.

Even though the story published by Daily Independent was only available on their website, they swung into action almost immediately by retracting the story and apologizing to the Areafada. Information reaching us is still sketchy about the decision of Charlyboy on daily independent; however, our source had learnt that the Areafada may be considering a compensation just to reciprocate their earlier action.

However, Charlyboy was said to have been provoked beyond his initial state when instead of publishing a retraction on the said subject, National Mirror came up with a publication justifying why the story was published as well as the need for such publication. Charlyboy had again reacted through his Lawyer, Bar. Ope Banwo, drawing national mirror’s attention to the fact that their response showed the highest level of irresponsibility in journalism and was unacceptable.

It was reported that even though, the National Mirror Chief Executive, Mr Jimoh Ibrahim had called Charlyboy on the phone to apologize and as well promised to do a retraction, no further action had been taken since then. This is said to be why Charlyboy resorted to the final court action against National Mirror.



Charlyboy in a suit filed in the Lagos High Court on Tuesday had demanded for 1 billion naira compensation and a total retraction of the story which his Lawyer Ope Banwo had considered unprofessional, biased and libelous.

All effort to reach the Editor of the National Mirror on phone hit the rocks as his numbers were unavailable as at the time of this report.        

                    

SOURCE