Africa-Press – Nigeria. A High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State Capital has declined to hear a case of alleged defamation of character instituted by the former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Party, APC, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu against former aid to Gov Godwin Obaseki, Rita Ebiuwa over outright breach of COVID-19 protocol.
The presiding Judge, High Court 2, Justice J. l Acha noted that the case was formerly filed on the 16th of February 2021 by Mathar Mago, Counsel to the claimant.
Justice Acha ordered that the case file be quarantined for four days before it can be heard in line with global pandemic procedure.
The case in suit No B/488/2020 Between Pastor Ize Osagie Iyamu and Rita Ebiuwa,
The claimant is demanding N500 million as damages over a libellous publication against his person, alleged to have been published on 19/7/ 2020. by the defendant on Facebook and other social media platforms.
The Claimant alleged that the statement published on social media platforms, especially Facebook and syndicated among other groups was malicious, defamatory and has brought hatred and public ridicule.
Osagie had equally sought an order of the court directing the defendant to publish an approved formal letter of apology and a retraction of the purported libellous publications in no fewer than seven national dailies.
Counsel to the defendant, Martin Omo Ighekpe in his earlier response said the alleged libellous claims against his client by Pastor Ize Osagie lyamu was not only misleading, malicious and gold-digging but that his client was never the author of the publication which was circulated globally on Facebook.
The court thereafter adjourned hearing into the case for April 1st 2021.
