BENUE STATE GOVERNOR, SAMUEL ORTOM SLAMS BUHARI’S MINISTER WITH A N60b LAW SUIT OVER ALLEGED LIBEL

The press conference held on Monday, August 30th 2021 by a former former governor of Benue State and now Minister of the Federal Republic in charge of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator GEORGE AKUME and other stakeholders may have landed him in trouble after all.

Governor ORTOM earlier, on a live television interview, accused President MUHAMMADU BUHARI of attempting to Fulanize Nigeria.

However, during the press conference, which was in direct reaction to
Akume comments against the President, the Minister asked ORTOM to tender an “unreserved apology” to President MUHAMMADU BUHARI for using ‘foul language’ against the president.

The former governor, Senator GEORGE AKUME also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe ORTOM’s administration while equally asking the President to declare a state of emergency in Benue State.

Meanwhile, Governor SAMUEL ORTOM views the AKUME’s utterances as libellous and has therefor instituted a N60 billion suit against the former governor and Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume at the Makurdi High Court.

The suit comes barely three days after ORTOM threatened to sue AKUME for allegedly peddling falsehood about him and his administration.

The suit No. MHC/268/2021 was filed by Okon N. Efut, SAN, and four other lawyers on Friday, September 3, 2021 on behalf of Governor SAMUEL ORTOM.

In his statement of claim, ORTOM demanded N50 billion as general damages for libel and N10 billion as exemplary and aggravated damages.

The governor also asked the court to declare the text of Senator AKUME’s press conference and the reports of the event in National Dailies as scandalous, malicious, and injurious to his person.

ORTOM stressed that the press conference was intended to expose him to hatred, contempt, ridicule as well as lower his estimation before the right-thinking members of the society.

He further asked the court to grant an injunction restraining the defendant by himself or through any agent, servants or privies from similar or further publication of any defamatory statement against him.