A Makurdi High Court presided over by Justice Augustine Ityonyiman has fixed December 21, 2021 for ruling on the application filed by the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the N60billion libel suit instituted against him by Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State.
At the resumption of hearing of the matter Friday, Mr. Haruna Adokele, who held brief for Senator Akume’s lead counsel, Simon Ameh, argued that the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the matter because service was not effected on the defendant.
He also submitted that Senator Akume is resident in Abuja and not Benue State hence the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case.
However, counsel to Governor Ortom, Mr. Okon Efut countered his position insisting that service was effected on Senator Akume as required by law.
Mr. Efut who argued that the application filed by Senator Akume was misconceived as service was effected within the jurisdiction of the court urged the court to dismiss the application with cost as the application was a strategy to delay the course of justice.
After listening to the arguments of both counsels, Justice Ityonyiman adjourned the matter to December 21, 2021 for ruling on the application.
It would be recalled that Governor Ortom instituted the suit seeking N50billion general damages for libel and N10billion exemplary and aggravated damages against the Minister over his comments in a press conference held on Monday, August 30, 2021.
In the statement of claim, Governor Ortom is seeking among others a declaration that “the text of Senator Akume’s press conference on 30th August, 2021, in Abuja and the reports in various national dailies is scandalous, malicious and injurious to his person.”