From Steph Clem
Hearing on the libel suit filed by Chinedum Orji, first son of Governor Theodore Orji against the Mr. Ebere Wabara and the Sun Newspapers has been adjourned to the 11th of November for hearing.
The case was meant for hearing today September 30, but was however mentioned before its adjournment.
Counsel to the defendants; The Sun newspapers and Ebere Wabara, Mr. A. C. Arinze had filed two different motions claiming that the 2nd defendant, Mr. Wabara was not served with the court processes.
Lead counsel to the claimant, Dr. Livy Uzoukwu(SAN), told the court that the motions were “calculated attempts by the defendants to stall hearing in the matter.”
He pointed out that the two motions were dated July 9 and September 17 respectively but were only served on Monday the September 29, saying the action was part of their effort to frustrate the matter from proceeding.
Mr. Arinze in his reply denied any plan to stall proceedings on the matter and blamed the late service on location of the claimant’s counsel which he said was out of the court’s jurisdiction.
In his ruling, presiding judge, Justice Chioma, advised the legal team of the claimant to provide an address within the jurisdiction for easy service of court processes to them and later adjourned the case.
It would be recalled that Chinedum Orji had instituted a libel case against the Sun newspapers for addressing him as a terrorist and therefore claims the sum of N5b as damages.
He also wants the court to grant him a perpetual injunction restraining the medium or its agent from further publishing libelous reports about him and an unreserved apology to be published in the newspapers for a number of times.
