A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has adjourned to November 29, 2016, for hearing on a defamation suit brought against the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dakuku Peterside, by former Rivers State Governor, Peter Odili.
At the resumed hearing, counsel for the NIMASA boss, Rowland Otaru, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said that they were not in court on October 11 because they were not properly served, and prayed the court for an adjournment to enable them file their defence, adding that N6 billion suit was big money.
Lead counsel to Odili, Kanu Agabi, SAN, however, did not oppose the prayer for adjournment, but insisted that the defendant was properly served.
Dr. Odili had, in the N6 billion suit, alleged defamation of his character by Peterside, who was the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 general elections in the state.
He said the defamation followed a statement credited to the defendant when he held a press conference after Governor Nyesom Wike’s Supreme Court victory.
The former governor of the State maintained that the DG, NIMASA had alleged in the press conference, that Wike, during his victory thanksgiving service, allegedly stated that Odili helped him to secure victory at the apex court.
He stated that what the APC governorship candidate said was false and malicious, as Wike never made such inference, but that Peterside twisted and misrepresented what the governor said.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after court proceedings, Otaru said, “We are not aware that the matter had been on because we were not served. It was sent to a wrong address and we will address the issue later.
”We are coming back on the 29th of November; but, before then, we are going to file the necessary Court papers. As I said before, this is a libel suit; so, we should be given a fair hearing”.
Also, Odili’s counsel, Kanu Agabi, SAN, told journalists: “Well, the Court obliged the defendant’s request to come back for defense. I am happy that the defendant is coming back to defend his actions”.
Recall that during the first hearing on the suit on October 11, 2016, neither Peterside, nor his legal representatives were in court.
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