The beginning of trial in the N5billion defamatory suit by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Akwa Ibom State, Mike Igini, against Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Col. David Imuse (rtd.), has been adjourned till November 23.
Edo High Court 9, Benin, presided over by Justice Vestee ñ, could not start hearing the suit yesterday as planned, according to the court’s registrar, who said the court would not sit.
Igini, from Delta State, who is a former Edo REC, instituted the suit over alleged defamation, thereby demanding N5 billion as aggravated damages from Imuse.
The lead counsel for Igini, Edwin Okonedo, told reporters yesterday on the court premises that he was prepared for the trial.
He said: “We arrived in court, but we were told by the registrar that ‘his lordship will not sit today’. We have taken another date, which is November 23, to begin trial.”
In the suit with reference number B/555/2020, the plaintiff (Igini), also demanded a full page unreserved apology to be published by the defendant in every edition of The Punch, Nigerian Tribune, The Guardian and Daily Sun for seven consecutive times, beginning not later than seven days after the judgment in the case.
He prayed the court for an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the defendants, their agents, privies and or servants, howsoever called, from further publishing same or similar words defamatory against him.
Igini claimed that prior to the September 19, 2020 Edo governorship election, the APC chairman and other persons addressed a news conference, titled: “Press Conference on Governor Godwin Obaseki’s Criminal Attempt to infiltrate INEC officers like Mike Igini.”
He said that the statement from Edo APC chairman dented his image, and people, who hitherto held him in high esteem, started losing confidence in him and are now avoiding him.
