Tina Amanda
A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, on Monday, adjourned hearing on the defamatory suit instituted by the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, challenging the inclusion of his name in the nation’s looters’ list by the minister of information, Lai Mohammed.
Recall that Counsel to the minister of information, Lai Muhammed, had earlier filed a preliminary objection that Rivers state high court lacks the jurisdiction to hear the matter since the publication was done in Lagos State.
The presiding Chief Judge, Justice Iyayi Laminkanra, after listening to the submission made, upheld the position that the said libellous publication published in Lagos was also published and read in Port Harcourt.
In her ruling, Justice Laminkanra ruled that the Rivers State High Court has proper jurisdiction over the matter and adjourned to 29th, October for hearing.
Speaking to our reporter, counsel to Uche Secondus, Echezona Etiaba, said they are waiting and ready for the long arm of the law to take its full course.
“It is well known that all they can do is the application of delay tactics. They know very well that they don’t have a defence to that publication.
“They know that Uche Secondus is an upright man and what was published against him is not true. So we are waiting and we believe that before long, the law will catch with everyone involved.”
Our correspondent reports that the defendant counsels for Vintage publishers and Lai Mohammed were not seen in court.
