Suspended member of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mr Emmankhu Addeh has dragged Speaker Blessing Agbebaku and seven media houses to the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Abuja for alleged libel.
In the suit marked FCT/HC/CV/2856/2024, Speaker Agbebaku and the seven media houses were listed as the first to eighth defendants respectively.
According to the writ of summons by Mr Nnaemeka Okeke dated June 19, the lawmaker, a legal practitioner and devout Christian, accused the defendants of libel on a broadcast made on May 6 during the plenary of the Edo House of Assembly, a re-broadcast and publication by the second to eight defendants on print, electronic and online media on May 7 and other dates.
He said in the broadcast, the defendants said the claimant, with two other persons, brought a herbalist to plant some charms by 1am in the Assembly’s premises.
He alleged that the libelous statement was published by the said news media.
The lawmaker claimed that the first defendant’s broadcast, re-broadcast and publications by the second to eight defendants had damaged his reputation in the eyes of his learned colleagues, his co-parishioners, church members, clientele and constituents.
Mr Addeh of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who represents Esan North-East 1 Constituency, is demanding from the defendants, among others, “an order mandating the first defendant to immediately publish in five print media and five online media a retraction of the defamatory statement together with an apology.
“An order mandating the second to eight defendants to immediately publish a retraction of the said defamatory publication and broadcast in their respective organisations.
“Damages of N3 billion against the defendants, jointly and severally; N50 million being the cost of the suit and 10 percent interest on the damages from the date of judgement until judgement debt is fully paid.”
No date has been fixed for hearing.
