Court grants substituted service in Ateke’s suit against APC chieftains
A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt yesterday granted request for substituted service on respondents in a N1 billion defamation suit filed by King Ateke Tom against eight chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The development followed an alleged evasion of service by the respondents.
The defendants in the suit include Asita O. Asita; deputy governorship candidate of the APC in the 2015 election, Dr. Davies Ikanya; chairman of APC in the state, Dumo Lulu Briggs; and Sampson Ngerigbara. The others are Prince Tonye Princewill, Sekonte Davies, Emeka Beke and Lawrence Chuku.
Counsel for Ateke, Mr. Granville Abibo (SAN), had informed the court that the respondents were evading service, praying Justice Constance Green to grant the bailiffs an order to use substituted means of service.
The trial judge ordered the applicant and the bailiffs to use substituted means to serve all the parties. He adjourned the case till May 9, 2018 for pre-trial conference.
Leaders and youths of Okirika stormed the court premises in solidarity with Ateke.
Spokesman of the Ateke’s supporters, Chief Dere Oforome, said the people of Okirika were angry over the alleged insult on their king. He said the description of Ateke as a criminal was a sin against Okirika and the entire Ijaw nation.
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