… As former governorship candidate shuns court
From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Former Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili has sued former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, for defamation, claiming N6 billion damages.
The defendant, Peterside, who is currently Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), failed to appear before Justice Adama Iyayi-Lamikanra of the State High Court, Port Harcourt, yesterday, to face the defamation suit.
Odili had, in the suit, demanded N6 billion damages against Peterside for defamation, which arose from a statement credited to the defendant when he held a press conference after Governor Nyesom Wike’s Supreme Court victory.
Peterside was said to have alleged in the press conference, that Wike, during his victory thanksgiving service, allegedly stated that Odili helped him to secure victory at the Supreme Court.
Odili stated that what Dakuku said was false and malicious as Wike never made such inference but that Dakuku twisted and misrepresented what Wike said.
The defamatory statement was, on February 10, 2016, published in a national daily (not The Sun Newspapers).
When the matter came up, yesterday, before Justice Iyayi-Lamikanra, Dr. Odili entered the witness box and affirmed his witness statement.
He told the court that the defendant was duly served.
Neither Peterside, nor his counsel was in court for the matter.
Lead counsel to Odili, Kanu Agabi told the trial judge that there was proof of service on Peterside.
Justice Iyayi-Lamikanra subsequently adjourned the case to October 27, for further hearing.
Speaking shortly after court proceedings, Agabi told newsmen that the defendant was “properly” served.
“We sued for libel and we called our first witness and we have adjourned for cross examination to 27 October.
“We felt defamed by their (defendant) publication and we are here to vindicate ourselves.
“ You could see that the defendants were not in court but they have been served.
“They were properly served. The court would not have proceeded otherwise,” said Agabi.