Court halts publication against Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom

A Lagos High Court, Igbosere has ordered a former House of Representative member, Dr. Emaeyak Ukpong and a legal practitioner to restrain from further publishing an alleged defamatory advertorial against Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel.

Justice O. Femi-Adeniyi granted the order of injunction following a motion filed before the court by Governor Udom, suing through his counsel.

Governor Udom in the substantive suit alleged that a libelous advertorial published in a newspaper (not The Guardian) captioned ‘Open letter to the board chairman and shareholders of Julius Berger Plc’ was aimed a maligning his reputation. The newspaper and its editor were joined as co-defendants.

According the governor, the said malicious publication was filled with lies and fictitious fabrications.

While ruling on the motion on notice brought by Udom’s counsel, Dr. Charles Mekwunye, Justice Femi-Adeniyi granted a restraining order on all the defendants in the suit from further republishing the advertorial.

The judge held: “The defendants/respondents are hereby restrained either by themselves or their privies, servants, agents affiliates, assignors, licensors and persons acting through and/or for them from further republishing and or uploading the false and libelous publication pertaining to the claimant/applicant captioned ‘Open letter to the board chairman and shareholders of Julius Berger Plc’.

“The 1st and 2nd defendants/respondents are hereby restrained from further supplying and/or making available to other media houses, the false and libelous publication against the claimant.”

The judge also directed the newspaper involved in the suit to take down the said publication from its website and all other website related to it.