The Federal High Court in Lagos has struck out a case of false publication against a Lagos-Based Maritime Consultant and Employment Solutions Strategist, Ronke Kosoko.
In the two-count case filed on January 31, 2019 between the Federal Government of Nigeria (Greg Ogbeifun) and Ronke Kosoko, the Maritime Consultant was accused of sending an email to the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconveniences, and insult to one Greg Ogbeifun, Chairman/CEO of Starzs Investments Company Limited over some alleged scandals.
Kosoko was also accused of intentionally transmitting several emails, text messages to Ogbeifun and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Acts of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Ruling in the case on April 11, 2019, Justice A.C Faji stated that the case was struck out in view of the application by the Prosecutor and the decision of the Complainant as well as contrition shown by the defendant.
The order was based on the hearing of A. O Nwabusi, counsel for the Prosecution informing the court that the nominal complainant has forgiven the defendant and applied to withdraw the charge.
O. Ojakovo Counsel for the defendant also informed the court that the defendant has fulfilled all conditions for the case to be struck out by sending mails retracting previous mails and hard copies given to the complainant and was not opposed to the application for the charge to be withdrawn.
While recommending the case for mediation between the complainant (Greg Ogbeifun) and the defendant (Ronke Kosoko), the Judge said: “I have looked at the issues, it has the capacity to destroy relationships across board hence should be settled through mediation and not court process. This lady has a very bright and long future ahead of her that should not be truncated with this kind of things.”
“I have seen them both. She is too young for this kind of thing and it is the court’s duty to repair relationships and not break them, hence the need to mediate”.
Ms Kosoko has however said she will be sharing her own side of the story to the industry stakeholders as well as the youth community which she serves in the employment market so as to enable the mediators understand the issues and appropriately mediate on the issues to which she desires a permanent ending with Ogbeifun having tried to privately handle them to no avail which led to the public clash between both parties.