Posted by By Ndubuisi Francis on
Leading British newspaper, The Sunday Times has admitted in court that its story in the January 30, 2005 edition that Kojo Annan, son of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan was involved in the $60 million Iraqi Oil-For-Food scandal otherwise known as "SAMIR Deal" was entirely false and should not have been published.
Leading British newspaper, The Sunday Times has admitted in court that its story in the January 30, 2005 edition that Kojo Annan, son of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan was involved in the $60 million Iraqi Oil-For-Food scandal otherwise known as "SAMIR Deal" was entirely false and should not have been published.
It has accepted not only to publish an appropriate apology but also pay an "undisclsoed substantial damages" and reimburse the legal costs incurred by Kojo Annan.
The story captioned "Kofi Annan's Son 'Admits' Oil Dealing" claimed that Kojo had admitted to a friend that he was involved in negotiations to sell millions of dollars of Iraqi oil under the auspices of the country's embattled former leader, Saddam Hussein.
The alleged admission was said to have increased pressure on his father, Kofi Annan, to resign from his position as the UN scribe.
The younger Annan was alleged to have become involved in negotiations to sell two million barrels of Iraqi oil to Moroccan company in 2001
Following the publication, Kojo had sued the newspaper in the Higher Court of Justice, Queen's Bench Division in London.
From the commencement of proceedings on February 4, 2005.
The Sunday Times claimed the allegation was true, claiming that it had sources to corroborate the story and accordingly sought to set up a defence justification.
But the report of the United Nations Independent Inquiry into the Oil-For-Food Programme which investigated the allegations against Kojo Annan turned in a verdict of not guilty.
"An article published in a British newspaper suggested that Kojo Annan was linked to a transaction for $60 million worth of Iraq oil negotiated through a company called Hazy Investments for sale to a Moroccan company, SAMIR Oil (SAMIR). The article claimed that Hazy Investments owned and operated by Hani Yamani, involved Kojo Annan. The committee has investigated the allegation of this transaction and has not found any transaction with SAMIR through Hazy Investments", the report of the UN panel read.
As a result of the UN Inquiry, the newspaper, through its counsel, Alastair Brett has admitted in the High Court of Justice in the Queen's Bench Division that it erred and should not have published the story against Kojo Annan.
The British publication has therefore not only agreed to publish an appropriate apology but has apologised in court to retract the libel as well as accepted not to republish the offensive story.
In addition, Sunday Times is to pay a substantial undisclosed damages to Annan and also reimburse his legal costs.
Reacting to the settlement, solicitor to the newspaper, Alastair Brett told the court: "My Lord, I accept everything my friend, Mr. Smith (Counsel for Annan) has said. Through me the defendant (Sunday Times) offers its apologies to the claimant for the distress and embarrassment the claimant says was caused by the publication of this allegation. It entirely accepts that the allegation was untrue."
Following these settlement offers by the newspaper, Annan has decided not to pursue the court case further considering that his reputation has been fully vindicated.
Reacting to the developments, Kojo Annan said: "Obviously I have neither the time, the inclination, nor the financial ability to fight each and every article that has appeared about me. Today's victory is in respect of one article that apperaed in the Sunday Time that I found very offensive and hurtful. It made a very serious accusation. It was wrong.
"My integrity, and more importantly that of my father, was repeatedly called into question during the last year by some in the media and scrutinised from all corners. We retained our dignity throughout whilst I personally was being hounded daily.
"I am delighted that this ordeal is seemingly coming to an end. It has been extremely stressful for my father, the rest of my family, and I, to have endured the countless unfounded statements alleging my supposed participation in the Oil For Food programme. These allegations have greatly affected me both personally and from a business perspective.
"I maintain my innocence and at least as against the Sunday Times in respect of the particular article that formed the centre of this dispute, and the central allegation it chose to make. I had an opportunity to prove that innocence", Kojo Annan concluded.