Niger Delta

Defamation: Court Orders Substituted Service On Rivers APC Chieftains

Published

8 years ago

March 9, 2018

A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has ordered that substituted service be served on nine chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State.
The trial Judge, Justice Constance D. Green gave the order yesterday following an application brought by the counsel to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri clan in Okrika Local Government Area King Ateke Tom, Granville Abibo (SAN) on a defamation of character suit bordering on fundamental right brought by the claimant, King Ateke Tom against the eight chieftains of APC, who are defendants in the matter.
The chieftains of the APC who are the defendants in the matter include Hon. Asita O. Asita, Chief Davies Ikanya, Dumu Lulu Briggs and Engr. Sampson Ngeregbara. Others are Prince Tonye Princewill, Hon. Sokonte Davies, Emeka Beke and Lawrence Chukwu.
The Okochiri monarch had in January this year filed a N1 billion suit against the eight chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state for alleged defamation of character in suit No. PHC/345/2018.
The claimant, an ex-Niger Delta agitator is seeking the leave of the court among other things to compel the defendants to jointly and or severally pay him the sum of N1 billion for libel and defamation of his character as well as an apology from the APC chieftains on National Newspapers for denting his character and reputation.
Justice Green ordered the lawyer to the claimant to serve the respondents in the matter through a substituted service by pastingsame in their offices, houses as well as the APC State Secretariat in Port Harcourt or any other means.
She urged the claimant to follow the rules of the court and ensure that the order of the court was effected on the parties involved.
The order was the aftermath of the application moved by the claimant lawyer, Granville Abibo (SAN) complaining on their inability to serve the defendants with the originating processes of the court.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) further told the court that the defendants had been evading service from the court baliff and sought the order of the court to serve the respondents through a substituted means which the court graciously granted.
The trail judge later adjourned the matter to 9/5/2018 for a pre-trial conference.
Speaking to journalists outside the court, Counsel to Ateke Tom, said the court had granted their application to serve all the defendants through a substituted service.
It would be recalled that in January 2018 the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state during a pro-rally in Port Harcourt organized by the support of SARS in the state imprinted King Ateke’s picture in a banner and allegedly described him as criminal made King by the Rivers State Government and that made the Okochiri King to seek redress in court.
Meanwhile, chiefs, youths and women from Okochiri, yesterday staged a solidarity march in support of King Ateke Tom over the on-going defamatory suit pending before Port Harcourt High Court.
The Protesters who numbered over 1000 people besieged the main gate of the entrance of the State Judiciary Complex in a Solidarity March with their King.
The spokesperson of the group, Chief Dere Blemgbo Oforome said the Okrika nation and the entire Ijaw nation are not happy on the affront melted on their King by the night APC leaders and urged the youths to remain peaceful fill the dispensation of the matter I the court.

Niger Delta

Navy Pledges Improved Patrols, Welfare Boost For Personnel

Published

9 minutes ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has pledged to ensure improved welfare for personnel and more patrols on the maritime corridors of the nation.

He disclosed this during an on the spot assessment of things at the Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Calabar, on Wednesday.

According to him, there is the need for officers to always be ready, by improving on their welfare, in a bid to keep the country secured.

“I am here for an on the spot assessment of our operations and like you have seen, I have also gone round to check the ongoing buildings.

”These are welfare issues and for us to be able to have our men ready and keep us secured, their welfare needs to be catered for.

“So, we are here to kill two birds with one stone, which are basically operations and welfare issues.

”I am happy with what the command is doing; it is doing well in terms of keeping the maritime environment safe.

“We will continue doing what we are doing and improve on that, which is patrol of the waters and increase in the area of surveillance”, he stated.

As part of his visit, Abbas commissioned the 12×1 Junior Rates Accommodation Block A and B, at the Navy Barracks at Atimbo in Calabar.

The naval chief also inspected other ongoing projects in the Akim Barracks, 1006 flats and the Navy hotel, all within Calabar.

Niger Delta

Delta Begins Uromi Junction Flyover Construction

Published

3 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Delta State Government says it has began construction work on the long-awaited Uromi Junction Flyover Bridge in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of the state.

Director-General (DG) of the Delta State Bureau for Orientation and Communications, Dr. Fred Oghenesivbe, confirmed the development to newsme in Asaba.

According to him, heavy-duty construction equipment have arrived the site, a project which is being handled by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, one of the country’s leading construction firms.

Oghenesivbe, described the flyover as a massive infrastructure project with far-reaching socio-economic benefits for the area.

He said the project would significantly transform the Agbor metropolis by easing traffic congestion, improving the city’s aesthetics, and boosting commercial activities within the local government area.

He described the State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, as a promise-keeper and pragmatic leader whose administration remains committed to infrastructure development and economic growth across the state.

The DG expressed confidence in Julius Berger’s capacity to deliver the project within record time and according to the highest construction standards.

“The Uromi Junction serves as a major link between different parts of the country but has recently been plagued by severe traffic congestion, making vehicular movement increasingly difficult”, he noted.

He urged residents to cooperate with the contractor and safeguard construction materials and equipment to ensure the timely completion of the project.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Rejects Ekid Ownership Claim Of Stubbs Creek

Published

3 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State Government has rejected claims by the Ekid People’s Union that it owns land within the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, describing such assertions as “false, misleading and a distortion of the judicial record.”

In a recent statement, signed by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom, the state government said it was compelled to respond in the “overriding public interest,” despite a pending court case instituted by the same group.

The government stated that contrary to claims circulating in the media, the historic case of Ntiaro and Ikpak vs. Ibok Etok Akpan and Edoho Ekid, decided by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in 1918, did not vest ownership of Stubbs Creek land in any ethnic group or community.

“The final judgement merely dismissed the claims before the court and granted title to no party whatsoever”, the government stated, adding that “any assertion to the contrary is false, misleading and a distortion of the judicial record.”

According to the statement, the land was lawfully reserved by the colonial government under Forest Reserve Order No. 45 of 1930, later amended in 1941, 1955 and 1962, with “the principal rights of the land forfeited to the Government upon the change of status.”

It said the area has since been administered under applicable laws by the Akwa Ibom State Government, which “has at all times acted within its lawful authority in the management and allocation of land in the area for legitimate public and economic purposes.”

Citing the 1999 Constitution and the Land Use Act, the government stated that all land in the state is vested in the governor to be held in trust for the common benefit of Nigerians, noting that claims of absolute ancestral ownership are subject to existing laws.

The government “categorically denies allegations of fraud or misrepresentation” regarding Stubbs Creek or investments there and warned it would take “appropriate legal steps” against any individual or group publishing false or defamatory material capable of undermining public confidence or discouraging investment

The statement also assured the federal government of “full access and Right of Way” for the proposed Coastal Highway through any part of the state.

The government statement followed an earlier report in which the Ekid People’s Union accused Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State of making comments that allegedly linked the community to terrorism, while he was defending the Coastal Highway project passing through the Stubbs Creek.

Ekid People’s Union maintained that the people of Ekid are the original owners of the land known as Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, arguing that their ancestral ownership predates colonial rule.

The group cited historical occupation, customary ownership and a 1918 Privy Council case, which it claimed affirmed Ekid rights over the territory.

The union also accused the Akwa Ibom State Government of misrepresenting history to justify taking over the land for commercial interests and the proposed Coastal Highway, an allegation the state government has denied.

The group rejected any suggestion linking the Ekid people to criminality or terrorism, insisting they were peaceful citizens defending their ancestral land through lawful and civic means.