Court adjourns N6b suit against NIMASA boss to November 29

A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has adjourned to November 29, 2016, hearing on a libel suit brought against the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside by former Rivers State Governor Peter Odili.

Odili, in a N6 billion suit against the NIMASA boss who was the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in the state in 2015, claimed that Peterside had held a press conference in Port Harcourt where he accused him of aiding Governor Nyesom Wike to influence the outcome of the January 27, 2016 Supreme Court judgment which reaffirmed the governor’s electoral victory.

Odili said Peterside’s assertion that he aided Wike to secure the January 27, 2016 Supreme Court verdict was false and malicious.

Peterside, represented by his counsel, Rowland Otaru told the Chief Judge, Justice Adama Iyayi-Laminkara that his client was not in court on October 11 because he was not properly served.

To this end, he asked the court for an adjournment to enable him to file his client defence.

Counsel to Odili, Kanu Agabi, SAN, did not oppose the request for adjournment.

He, however, told the court that the defendant was properly served contrary to the claim by his counsel.

After listening to the various parties, Justice Iyayi-Laminkara, adjourned the matter to November 29, 2016 for hearing.