Tony John, Port Harcourt
A Rivers High Court sitting, in Port Harcourt, has fixed a new date for hearing on Prince Uche Secondus, National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) suit contesting his inclusion in the looters list by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and others.
The matter was slated for hearing yesterday, by the trial Judge and Chief Judge of the State, Justice Adama Iyayi-Lamikanra.
Justice Iyayi-Lamikanra gave June 26 as new date to hear the matter after failing to sit on the adjourned date.
Respondents in the matter were also absent in court, except the plaintiff’s team, led by Mr. Emeka Etiaba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
Justice Iyayi-Lamikanra, had on April 23 restrained the Federal Government from further mentioning name of Prince Secondus in the looters’ list recently published by the government.
The judge also ordered that the hearing notice be served the respondents by the plaintiff.
The order followed a motion brought by Secondus seeking an interlocutory injunction against further publication of his name on the list.
Secondus, in Suit PHC/1013/2018, sued the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Mohammed, Federal Government and Vintage Press for alleged libel.
The PDP national chairman is asking the court to award him N1.5 billion damages for the alleged libel.
He told the court that listing him as a looter who collected N200 million on February 19, 2015 from the Office of the National Security Adviser was libellous.
The PDP chairman’s counsel, Mr Etiaba (SAN), said that the judge could hear the suit because his client was defamed by the publication.
Etiaba, who confirmed the new date, said in court that his client was directed in the court room on yesterday, to take a new date for the matter.
“Unfortunately, we were not told in advance that the court will not sit. We are here. But much as no party was informed that the court will not sit; none of the defendant is in court”, he said .