Facts:

The Respondent by a writ of summons at the High Court of Enugu State initiated this suit against the Appellants. The case of the Appellant was that on the 2nd June 2017, the Appellants published in the internet an online post/article on its page and to the public where they falsely presented the Respondent as being a rapist who raped a 16-year-old girl multiple times as well as a paedophile and a dangerous criminal. The Respondent stated that the first article falsely and maliciously published by the defendants on the said 28th June 2017 and concerning the Respondent carried defamatory remarks stating that the 16-year-old girl was allegedly defiled by a medical doctor, Identified as the Respondent.

The Respondent sought the following reliefs before the trial court:
(i) ₦1,000,000.00 (One Billion Naira) damages for libel,
(ii) An injunction restraining the defendants from further publication of the said libel.
(iii) An order of court compelling the defendants to publish in the two National Dally newspapers (front page) including their own publication, “Daily Times” an unqualified apology in favour of the plaintiff.

On being served, the appellants entered a joint conditional appearance which was followed up with a notice of preliminary objection wherein they prayed that the said suit be struck out for want of jurisdiction. The said objection was heard in limine and thereafter the learned trial Judge delivered a considered ruling in favour of the Respondent.

Dissatisfied with the decision of the trial court, the Appellants appealed to the Court of Appeal.