Rivers State Ministry of Justice has scored a clear courtroom victory after a High Court threw out a multi-million naira lawsuit against the state government.
Hon. Justice M. Opara of the Port Harcourt Judicial Division dismissed an entire claim in Suit No. PHC/3408/CS/2022, initiated by Sam Egento Company Ltd, which sought ₦20,999,000 in damages from the Government of Rivers State, the Attorney-General, and the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service.
The company alleged damage and trespass to its truck at Mbiama, but the court rejected the claim in full.
Hon. Justice Opara, in his ruling, noted that the claimant failed to prove any link between the alleged damage and officers of the Internal Revenue Service.
The Defence counsel led by Dr. Ibelema B. Diepriye, an Assistant Director in the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, successfully argued the state’s case.
The judgment ends the long-running dispute and shields public funds from what the court found to be an unsubstantiated demand.
Speaking after the judgement, officials from the Rivers State Ministry of Justice described the outcome as another firm defence of the state’s interests and a boost for the rule of law in Rivers.
