Justice Josephine Oyefeso of an Ikeja High Court has ordered
that a motion exparte filed by Chairman, Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu be served on three
journalists working with the Sun Newspaper.
The EFCC boss had earlier this year sued the Sun Newspaper
before the Lagos High Court over what he claims were false and
malicious publications against his person.
Joined in the suit as co-defendants are the Editor, Saturday
Sun, Fred Itua, James Ojo and Lawrence Enyoghase.
Counsel to Magu, Mr Wahab Shittu Wednesday moved a motion
exparte seeking to serve the originating processes on the three
reporters who authored the publication by pasting it on their last
known address given at No. 2 Coscharis Street, Off Happy Home
Avenue, Kirikiri Industrial Layout, Apapa, Lagos.
The court granted the request of the EFCC counsel for
substituted service.
The EFCC boss is seeking N5billion compensation for the alleged
libellous imputations and statements made against him in a story
published March 25, 2017 edition of the Saturday Sun.
The report had alleged that the EFCC Boss purchased for himself
two mansions on different streets in the highbrow Maitama area of
Abuja.
Magu is however contending that the publication captioned “Magu
under Fresh Probe over 2 Abuja Mansions” and authored by Fred Itua,
James Ojo and Lawrene Enyoghasu, “willfully and maliciously made
false, destructive, and defamatory statements against him
Magu however maintained that neither himself nor his wife owned
any property in Maitama.
In addition to the demand for N5 billion compensation, Magu
demanded that the publishers issue a public apology and immediate
retraction in writing of these false libelous statements, within
seven days of the publication.
Sun Newspapers refused to published a retraction prompting Magu
to eventually file the suit.
Justice Oyefeso has adjourned the matter to November 15, 2017
for trial.
Justice Josephine Oyefeso of an Ikeja High Court has ordered
that a motion exparte filed by Chairman, Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu be served on three
journalists working with the Sun Newspaper.
The EFCC boss had earlier this year sued the Sun Newspaper
before the Lagos High Court over what he claims were false and
malicious publications against his person.
Joined in the suit as co-defendants are the Editor, Saturday
Sun, Fred Itua, James Ojo and Lawrence Enyoghase.
Counsel to Magu, Mr Wahab Shittu Wednesday moved a motion
exparte seeking to serve the originating processes on the three
reporters who authored the publication by pasting it on their last
known address given at No. 2 Coscharis Street, Off Happy Home
Avenue, Kirikiri Industrial Layout, Apapa, Lagos.
The court granted the request of the EFCC counsel for
substituted service.
The EFCC boss is seeking N5billion compensation for the alleged
libellous imputations and statements made against him in a story
published March 25, 2017 edition of the Saturday Sun.
The report had alleged that the EFCC Boss purchased for himself
two mansions on different streets in the highbrow Maitama area of
Abuja.
Magu is however contending that the publication captioned “Magu
under Fresh Probe over 2 Abuja Mansions” and authored by Fred Itua,
James Ojo and Lawrene Enyoghasu, “willfully and maliciously made
false, destructive, and defamatory statements against him
Magu however maintained that neither himself nor his wife owned
any property in Maitama.
In addition to the demand for N5 billion compensation, Magu
demanded that the publishers issue a public apology and immediate
retraction in writing of these false libelous statements, within
seven days of the publication.
Sun Newspapers refused to published a retraction prompting Magu
to eventually file the suit.
Justice Oyefeso has adjourned the matter to November 15, 2017
for trial.