From Okey Sampson, Umuahia

The Abia State High Court in Umuahia has adjourned till June 5, a case of defamation instituted by a former governor of the state, Senator Theodore Orji, against a Board of Trustees (BOT) and national caucus member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Benjamin Apugo.

Senator Orji, who filed the case on September 9, 2020, claimed that Prince Apugo defamed his character by publicly saying he (Orji) looted Abia funds when he was governor. During the last hearing of the case earlier in the year, it was adjourned to April 16, for continuation of pre-trial hearing.

At yesterday’s hearing, the court presided by Justice A.C Chijioke observed that the statement of defence filed by the defence counsel, Oliver Amuzie, could not be traced in the court’s file.

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Based on the agreement reached by both the claimant and defence counsels, Justice Chijioke adjourned the case to June 4, for the statement of defence to be traced and for continuation of pre-trial process.

Speaking after the adjournment, the defence counsel, Amuzie said his client had no apologies to make to the claimant since what he said had already been published in various media outlets and, as such, was in public domain.

The defence counsel said his client only made a fair comment based on what was already in the public domain.

Claimant’s counsel, Henry Balaogu, described what led to the adjournment of the case to administrative lapses, which he said would be rectified before the next adjourned date. He said the allegation against the former governor was weighty, and that it will be left for the defendant to prove it.