By Abdulwahab   Abdulah

LAGOS — an  Ikeja High Court yesterday refused an application by some media houses to tender the recent judgment of another sister’ court which convicted Chief Olabode George of impropriety to buttress their publications in a libel case.

Two media houses — The News magazine and the Daily Independent— were dragged before the court for libel over publications that Chief George, former chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, and his board members mismanaged the authority’s Funds.

In his short ruling, Justice Hakeem Oshodi held that the newspapers houses who were the defendants in the N2 billion suit initiated by George, filed their applications out of time, after the conclusion of hearing.

The judge struck out the application, stating that the amendment sought by the newspapers on November 16, 2008 ought to have been done before the defence closed their case.

Moreover, Justice Oshodi before adjourning the matter for February 9, said the defence had filed its own written address to which the claimant had responded since the completion of trial on May 6, last year.

The newspapers had claimed that the said judgment by Justice Olubunmi Oyewole, made definite findings and fundamental pronouncements on the subject matter of the suit, which they argued found George and others liable of the criminal suit against them.