Keep speaking the truth, you have right for free speech, court tells Abia opposition lawmaker

 

Keep speaking the truth, you have right for free speech, court tells Abia opposition lawmaker

By Steve Oko

Justice Benson Anya of the Abia State High Court, Friday declared that the court does not have the powers to bar citizens from exercising their rights of free speech.

The judge made the declaration during hearing in a suit filed by the Coordinator of the Nigerian Erosion & Watershed Management Project ( NEWMAP), Abia State, Izuchukwu Onwughara, on his behalf; and for the Abia State Government against the member representing Aba South State constituency Hon. Obinna Ichita of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA.

A State High Court sitting in Isuochi, had on January 21, granted an interlocutory injunction restraining the lawmaker from making or publishing defamatory statements against the Claimants.

But the Lawmaker through his lawyer, Peter Agbai, filed a statement of defense, alleging that the move was a ploy to gag him as an opposition member of the State House of Assembly.

He denied making any defamatory statements against the Claimants, arguing that he is only demanding explantations from the State Government on the whereabouts of the over $27.4 US Dollars largesse from the World Bank for road infrastructure in Aba which is his constituency.

The Lawmaker told the court that he was only speaking the minds of his constituents by ensuring there is accountability for the funds meant for public infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Justice Anya declared that “it is the right of citizens to freely express themselves as long as they speak the truth”.

The Court urged the Lawmaker to “go ahead and speak the truth”, but should be mindful of the bitter consequences of falsehood.

” Go ahead and say the truth in the pit of hell; speak the truth in the gate of heaven for you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.

” But you should also know that if we discover that you are propagating falsehood, then be sure that falsehood will take you to prison”.

The Claimants were however not present in court while the matter was adjourned to March 11.

Later in an interview, Counsel to the lawmaker, Agbai, said the declaration of the Court had shown that the court was not willing to be a tool to suppress the voice of opposition.

Reacting also, Hon. Ichita, expressed delight over the declaration of the court, saying that the judiciary has again proved to be the hope of our democracy.

He said that no attempt to gag him from demanding explantations on the disbursement of the World Bank largesse for infrastructural development in Aba would succeed.

Adding his voice the State Secretary of APGA, Chief Sunday Onukwubiri, who was at the court to solidarise with the lawmaker, expressed shock that the state House of Assembly was keeping quiet at an attempt to gag a lawmaker.

He challenged the lawmakers to rise to resist the attempt to gag one of them, while assuring Ichita of the unflinching support of the party.

 

 

Steve Oko, Publisher/C.E.O, WaWa News Global. For more information on advert placement and news coverage, contact us on: 08038725600, or via email stevemanofgod2000@yahoo.com; wawanewsglobal@gmail.com Always read WaWa News Global - Your most dependable online news platform for the latest breaking news in Nigeria.

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