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Defamation: Court Orders Substituted Service On Rivers APC Chieftains

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7 years ago

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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.

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Niger Delta

Diri To Deliver UNIPORT’s 35th Convocation Lecture July 25th … As UNIPORT’s Mgt Visits Bayelsa 

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June 20, 2025

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Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, will deliver the 35th convocation lecture of the University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State on July 25, 2025.
The State’s Chief Executive gave his consent during the courtesy visit of the institution’s management led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, to Government House, Yenagoa, last Friday.
Prof. Georgewill said the institution was proud to have the Governor as an alumnus, stating that the State under Governor Diri was experiencing rapid transformation as virtually all sectors of its economy had been positively affected by his administration.
The VC also said the institution was pleased to be associated with the Governor and that it was a huge privilege having him as a product of the school.
He appealed to the Governor to consider a legacy project as a way of giving back to the institution, which he noted will also help it cope with the rising number of students and staff.
While accepting the offer, Governor Douye Diri said as an alumnus, he was bound to be part of the institution’s activities.
He commended the UNIPORT management for maintaining excellence in the institution, stressing that education was crucial to development of society.
The Bayelsa number one citizen noted that leaders who fail to invest in education would have to deal with the consequences of crime and criminality, restating his administration’s commitment to developing the sector, noting that society would not progress without education.
The State’s helmsman explained that Bayelsa had shifted focus from paper qualification to science, technical and vocational education, and that the government had already completed tuition-free technical colleges in six out of the eight Local Government Areas, with the contract for the other two awarded.
“If you ignore education, then you have to build more prisons because crime will soar. For us as a government, education is a priority.
“Those of us that had the opportunity must provide space for others. In Bayelsa, we are moving from paper qualification to science and technical education so our people can have skills to be employers of labour rather than being thrown into the labour market.
“We are building science and vocational colleges in every local government area as a policy of this government. School fees, feeding and accommodation are all free. Our educational curriculum needs to meet the needs of our society.
“Coming to your requests, I will be happy to deliver the convocation lecture. If I did it in other institutions, UNIPORT’s should not be different. I also approve your request for a legacy infrastructure in our institution”, he said.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
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Niger Delta

C’River Commences Inquiry Into NDDC’s Project Inauguration Disruption 

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7 days ago

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June 20, 2025

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The Cross River State Government has constituted a judicial commission of inquiry to probe the alleged disruption of the inauguration of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) sponsored project in Calabar.
The five-member commission, which has Justice Emilia Ibok as Chairman, was mandated to ascertain the truth from the divergent narratives in the public domain regarding the disruption.
It has two weeks to submit its report.
The Tide’s source reports that the incident had sparked off intense faceoff between Sen. Asukwo Ekpenyong, representing Cross River Senatorial District, and the State Government over the ownership of some projects in Calabar metropolis.
The acrimony, however, took a dramatic turn, when some youths, allegedly on the orders of the State Government, disrupted the inauguration of one of the projects slated to be performed by the Minister of Regional Development, Alhaji Abubakar Momoh, last Friday.
The fracas that ensued pitched Ekpenyong’s supporters against those of the State Government.
Meanwhile, Ekpenyong has blamed the State Government for the ugly incident.
Reacting to the accusation, the State Government quickly announced the constitution of a judicial commission of inquiry to look into the issue.
The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh, said that “following a deluge of allegations of disruption of some projects unveiling hosted by the NDDC, the Governor had constituted a judicial commission of inquiry.
“The commission shall identify the perpetrators and make appropriate recommendations for further disciplinary and/or criminal proceedings to be pursued against identified perpetrators.
“The commission is to conclude its inquiry and submit a report on or before July, 1,” Owan-Enoh said.
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FG Lauds Oborevwori’s Bold Initiatives In Delta 

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7 days ago

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June 20, 2025

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The Federal Government has praised Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, for what it described as his proactive approach and bold steps in facilitating key infrastructural projects across the state.
The Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, who stated this during an inspection of the Second Niger Bridge access road, commended Governor Oborevwori for his support in the successful realization of the Second Niger Bridge access road and other critical infrastructure developments in the State.
Speaking to journalists in Asaba during the inspection, Umahi, a former Governor of Ebonyi State, lauded Governor Oborevwori for gazetting the right-of-way for the Second Niger Bridge access road extending to Issele-Azagba, and for personally overseeing the revocation and compensation processes related to affected properties.
“Let me commend, very, very highly, the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, because he has gazetted the right-of-way for the Second Niger Bridge access road to Issele-Azagba.
“He has revoked the necessary properties and he is paying compensation himself”, Umahi stated.
The Minister urged other governors in the country to emulate Governor Oborevwori’s collaborative approach, noting that state-level support could accelerate federal projects and deliver quicker results to local communities.
He said: “I also want to appreciate the synergy between the Delta State Government and the Federal Government on ongoing projects in the state. The proactive approach by the Delta State Government in taking over the payment of compensation to affected individuals has been instrumental in fast-tracking these projects.
“I am confident this collaboration will yield positive results, and I assure the state government that the Federal Ministry of Works will honor its commitments”.
He also commended Governor Oborevwori for the ongoing construction of three flyovers and road expansion projects in Effurun, describing them as “very beautiful” and praising their unique design.
“I love the curves, and I have stolen that design and I am going to use it”, he said, highlighting the innovative flair seen in the projects.
Describing Oborevwori as a man of vision and progress, Umahi said, “he (Oborevwori) has a very large heart and a very progressive mind. No wonder he is with us now. So, I commend him very highly.”
Earlier, during a visit to the Warri-Benin-Asaba Road, Umahi expressed concern over the slow pace of work on the Effurun-Sapele section and urged the contractors to increase their speed to meet the project deadlines.
“Timely completion is crucial, and I expect all contractors to work diligently towards achieving this goal”, he said.
Speaking on behalf of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kingsley Emu, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to a mutually beneficial partnership and ongoing collaboration with the Federal Government.
He commended the Federal Government for the 17.6km access road from the Second Niger Bridge linking Delta State, and the proposed concrete rehabilitation of the four-lane, 5km road from Summit Junction to the bridgehead.
Emu emphasized that the economic impact of these projects, once completed, cannot be overstated, and thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Works for their commitment to delivering them.
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