Coker v Nwakanma

Coker v Nwakanma

The Defendant published a defamatory statement to his sister, but proved on the balance of probabilities that the Claimant committed a serious sexual assault, thus establishing the truth defence and defeating the libel claim.

Parties
Claimant: Akintunde Coker; Defendant: Samson Nwakanma
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
23 April 2021
Procedural Posture
Libel / Final Judgment After Trial
Outcome
Claim dismissed
Legal Topics
Libel, Truth Defence, Serious Harm, Publication, Social Media Defamation
Defamation Media Law Tort Libel Truth Defence Serious Harm Publication Social Media Defamation

Case Brief

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Full judgment text Downloadable case file Legal principles 5 Authorities cited 9 Party arguments 2
Sign in to unlock

Parties

Akintunde Coker

Claimant

Samson Nwakanma

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Libel / Final Judgment After Trial

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the Defendant published defamatory statements about the Claimant to third parties
  2. 2 Whether the statements referred to the Claimant and were defamatory
  3. 3 Whether the publication caused or was likely to cause serious harm to the Claimant's reputation

Ratio Decidendi

The Defendant published a defamatory statement to his sister, but proved on the balance of probabilities that the Claimant committed a serious sexual assault, thus establishing the truth defence and defeating the libel claim.

Court Disposition

Claim dismissed

Orders

  • Claim for libel dismissed
  • Defendant's counterclaim dismissed by agreement as sanction for procedural non-compliance