From Yakubu Busari Jos
A Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos, on Wednesday awarded N8.6m as damages to Funom Communication, publisher of New Impression magazine over non-payment of advertisement placement by three clients.
Justice Christine I. Dabup in her judgement ordered the defendants, namely Riyom, Langtang South and Wase Local Government Areas, of Plateau State to comply with the condition of the court for failure to file their claim.
The publisher of Funom Communication Nigeria limited, Modecai Ibrahim, in suit No PLD/J624M/2019, had sued the LGAs for failure to pay for the advertisements in the magazine published by the organization.
The plaintiffs claim against the defendants jointly and severally are as follows:
(a) The sum of N 364,300.00 from 1st and 3rd defendants and N164,300.00 from 2nd defendant as the outstanding payment out of N528,600.00 being the original principal cost of advertisement placed in the plaintiffs’ July /August, 2028 edition of the New Impression magazine.
(b) The sum of N2,031,480.00 from each of the defendants representing 30 per cent monthly credit facility penalty of the unpaid original cost of advertisement sum per month from 17th August, 2018 4th till 17th July, 2019 till judgment is delivered respectively.
(c) 30 per cent monthly credit facility penalty on the unpaid original principal cost of advertisement sum of N564,300.00 from 17th October, 2019 till judgment is delivered.
Counsel to the plaintiff, Barr. A. I. Madaki said the judgment involved three local governments, which had a contractual agreement on behalf of their LGAs, which the bridged the contract agreement entered.
However, the counsel explained that the plaintiff approached the court seeking for peaceful settlements which was not fulfilled hence the decision to go on litigation.
