A Benin City High court in Edo State has adjourned a N5 billion libel suit against Col. David Imuse, the Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State to November 15 and 16, 2022 for continuation of hearing.
The immediate past Resident Electoral Commission (REC) in Akwa Ibom State, Mike Igini, had dragged Imuse and two others to court over a media report.
According to Igini, the Edo APC chairman allegedly accused him of receiving financial bribe from Governor Godwin Obaseki ahead of the 2020 governorship election in Edo.
Also joined in the suit are African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, publishers of the Tribune titles of Newspapers and the Sun Publishing Ltd, publishers of the Sun titles of Newspapers.
Counsel to Imuse, Austin Osarenkhoe had at the last adjournment on August 4, made an oral application before the presiding judge, Justice Vestee Eboreime for an out-of-court settlement.
At the resumed hearing on Monday September 26, 2022, Clement Onwuwuenor (SAN), counsel to the Igini told the court that an agreement could not be reached for out-of-court settlement.
He stated that “the settlement broke down due to unsatisfactory terms of resolutions brought forth by Imuse”.
Consequent to the collapse of the alternative dispute resolution, counsel to the three defendants proceeded with cross-examination of Igini, who had earlier been led on evidence and presented his exhibits at the last hearing.
Under cross-examination, Igini admitted that the newspapers sought his reaction before publication, but noted that the reaction was not enough to malign his integrity.
On an application for extension of time to file statement of defence by the APC Chairman, Justice Eboreime ordered the first defendant to file his defence within 48 hours, having defaulted in the process.
The judge awarded a cost N50,000 against the defendant to the claimant for defaulting in the earlier order of the court on the statement of defence.
