From Obinna Nwaoku, Port Harcourt
Ehie slams N2b libel suit against Nwaeke
President Bola Tinubu and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, were noticeably absent from yesterday’s court proceedings, as the Federal High Court in Abuja began hearing the case challenging the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) as Sole Administrator of Rivers State.
This was as the Chief of Staff to the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, Edison Ehie, slammed a N2 billion defamatory suit against the immediate past Head of Service of Rivers State, George Nwaeke and Channels Television.
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja had last week scheduled April 10 for hearing in the suit filed by Johnmary Jideobi, an Abuja-based legal practitioner.
The plaintiff, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/572/2025, seeks an order from the court declaring “all actions and decisions made by Ibas as Sole Administrator of Rivers State as unconstitutional, void and of no legal effect across Nigeria.
When the matter was called for hearing yesterday, neither Tinubu nor Fagbemi was present or represented in court. Counsel for the plaintiff, Chimezie Enuka, informed the court that all the defendants, except the Attorneys-General of Zamfara and Bauchi states, had been duly served with both the originating processes and the hearing notice.
Following an agreement among the lawyers present, Justice Omotosho adjourned the case till June 11 for a hearing. The court also ordered that fresh hearing notices be served on all the defendants.
EHIE is asking the court presided over by Justice Stephen Jumbo to award the N2 billion as damages in his favour following a television broadcast done by Nwaeke through ChannelsTelevision on March 29, which he said was done without cause and in the most wicked manner and falsely and maliciously published.
When the matter was mentioned in court, the counsel to Ehie, Tuduru Eden (SAN) filed for a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants forthwith, either by themselves, agents, servants, workers or howsoever from further publication or circulating either to the public.
Justice Jumbo thereafter adjourned till the 4th of June 2025 for mention and further proceedings.
