Court adjourns Odili vs Dakuku case of character defamation indefinitely

A Port Harcourt High Court on Tuesday adjourned, indefinitely, a libel suit filed by a former Rivers State Governor, Dr. Peter Odili, against the Director- General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside.

Former Governor Peter Odili had, in October 2016, had instituted a N6billion label suit against Dr. Dakuku Peterside for an alleged defamation of character. He claimed that the NIMASA D-G in a newspaper publication in February, 2016, said that the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, during a victory thanksgiving service, alleged that Odili helped him (Wike) to secure the judgement that gave him (Wike) victory.

The counsel to Dr. Peterside, Mr. Rowland Otaro who was represented by another lawyer, Mr. Damian Okoro said that his client had filed a notice of Appeal at the Court of Appeal on a ruling over the service to the defendant.

Mr Okoro said that he also filed a motion that the lower court should stay proceedings until the determination of the Appeal Court suit.

The Chief Judge of the State, Justice Iyayi Laminkara, presiding over the matter said that the sine die adjournment of the case was in line with the court rules since an application of stay of proceedings had been filed in the Appeal Court.

Speaking to journalists on the sideline of the proceeding, Mr. Josphe Ogu, who represented Mr. Kanu Igabi, SAN, and the lead counsel to Dr. Odili said that the procedure of the law had been followed, adding that they would wait for the outcome of the Appeal Court application for direction.