Court reserves hearing on libel suit against Edo APC chairman

Assembly receives commissioner nominees list
Edo State High Court in Benin has fixed November 23, 2021 for the commencement of hearing on alleged N5 billion libel suit against Chairman of Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC), Col. David Imuse (rtd.).

The Guardian recalls that Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Akwa Ibom State, Mike Igini, had sued Imuse, demanding N5 billion, as aggravated damages arising from alleged libelous publications by Imuse before the Edo 2020 governorship election in a suit marked: B/555/2020.

Registrar of the High Court announced the deferment of the case on behalf the High Court judge, Justice Vestee Eboreime, saying the court would not sit as scheduled.

Speaking with journalists, Edwin Okonedo, counsel to the claimant, said: “We were prepared for hearing this morning only for us to arrive in court and the Registrar told us that that the judge will not sit. It is unfortunate, because our client was on official duty in Abuja and had to fly to Benin yesterday.”

BESIDES, the Edo State House of Assembly has confirmed receipt of commissioner nominees’ list from Governor Godwin Obaseki, who requested their speedy consideration and confirmation.

Following receipt of the letter, Speaker of the House, Marcus Onobun, directed the screening of the 11 nominees by the House Committee on Business Rules and Government House.

Onobun directed the committee, headed by the Majority Leader, Henry Okhuarobo, with the Chief Whip Emmanuel Okoduwa and Yekini Idaiye, as members to screen 20 copies of the nominees’ resumes and report back to the House on Monday, October 4, 2021.

MEANWHILE, the Correspondents Chapel, Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), yesterday, hailed Governor Obaseki for reappointing Crusoe Osagie as his Special Adviser (SA) on Media Projects. 

A statement issued by Chairman of the Chapel, Mrs. Nefishetu Yakubu and Secretary, Osaigbovo Iguobaro, felicitated with Osagie and commended the governor for finding him worthy of managing a crucial department of the government. 

Osagie’s reappointment, is no doubt, a recognition of his accomplishments and it is well deserved. He had worked very hard to reach this point and it is our hope that access to information and press freedom would be upheld at all times. 

“We wish him well in the task ahead and look forward to greater synergy and collaboration,” the statement reads.