Sportpesa parent company Pevans E.A has sued businessman Paul Ndung’u and Nation Media Group for defamation.
A press statement dated November 1st, contained the defamatory by Ndung’u and published in several media outlets including the Business Daily.
“The paper published offending words without bothering to verify its truth. We have suffered monumental loss to our reputation, mental anguish and we seek full compensation,” Pevans said.
The company now wants the court to issue a permanent order stopping Nation Media Group and Ndung’u from publishing any further or similar defamatory material concerning them.
This comes after a judge, Pauline Nyamweya on Wednesday revoked a decision banning use of Sportpesa brand by a gaming company.
Her decisions came out of an application made on October 30, 31 2020 by the gaming company challenging a decision by the Betting Control and Licensing Board.
Betting Control and Licensing Board had stopped the Milestone games limited from using the trade name Sportpesa, the domains www.ke.sportpesa.com, www.sportpesa.co.ke, short codes 29050, 79079 and paybill numbers.
In a ruling by the judge dated November 16th further certified the case by the gaming company as urgent saying that there are likely effects of the decision being challenged in court hence Milestone games moved to court seeking orders to withdraw the decision of the board.
The court was told that the board’s decision acted outside its powers.
The decision was made without the gaming company being given a chance to make any representation.
According to the court documents, the defendants ;Ndung’u and Nation Media Group, have refused to publish an apology despite being served with demand notices.
The judge directed the parties to file their replies to the suit papers and scheduled the case for hearing on January 25, 2021.