Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has filed a libel suit against the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator George Akume.
The suit marked MHC/268/2021 was filed before a Benue State High Court Makurdi on Friday by Mr Okon N. Efut (SAN) and four other lawyers.
Ortom is also seeking N60billion damages comprising N50billion as general damages for libel and N10billion as exemplary and aggravated damages.
The writ of summons was backed by a 17-paragraph statement of claim.
In the statement of claim, Ortom is asking the court to declare that the text of Akume’s press conference on August 30, 2021, in Abuja and the reports in various national dailies are scandalous, malicious and injurious to his person.
The Benue Governor is further asking the court to hold that the press conference was intended to lower his reputation before right-thinking members of the society and to expose him to “hatred, contempt and ridicule”.
The governor is also seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the defendant (Akume) and his agents from similar or further publication of any defamatory statement against him.
No date has been fixed for hearing of the case.
Theideal recalls that Akume had during a media briefing on Monday, asked Ortom to tender an “unreserved apology” to President Muhammadu Buhari over his recent interview, and for using “foul language” against the President.
The minister also asked the President to declare a state of emergency in Benue and called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe Ortom’s administration.
