COURT STRUCK OUT EDO GOVERNOR’S CHIEF OF STAFF SUIT AGAINST GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER

By Adeyemi Elijah- Benin
An Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City on Tuesday struck out a case filed by the Edo State Chief of staff, Mr. Taiwo Akerele against the Guardian Newspaper Limited over a report it published on IDPs rice diversion in the state.
Counsel to the Defendants (Guardian Newspaper and her correspondent), Barr. Tom Enakhena urged the court to dismiss the suit on the ground that the claimant failed to appear in court to prove his case after series of court seating on the suit.
Presiding Judge , Hon.Justice A.N.Erhabor in Suit number No B/169/2918 , declared that upon the application of the 2nd defendant, counsel Tom Enakhena to the libelous suit against the 1st and 2nd defendants has struck out the suit for want of diligent prosecution.
Counsel to the Edo State Governor’s chief of staff, Moses Akerele had filed a suit against the Defendants seeking claims against the Defendants jointly and /or severally for : the sum of N250,000,000,00k( Two hundred and fifty million naira) on the footing of general and /or exemplary or aggravated damages for libel.
It would be recalled that the Guardian newspaper in March 2018 had reported a story entitled,” Probe of Alleged Diversion of Relief Materials Begins in Edo.”, where it alleged the diversion of over 4,781 bags of rice and other relief materials meant for internally displaced persons(IDPs) in Edo State.