Pre-trial hearing begins in ex-Gov Orji’s N1.5b defamation suit against Apugo
By Steve Oko
After close to four years of delays, pre-trial hearing, finally began on Tuesday at Abia State High Court sitting in Umuahia, in the N1.5 billion defamation suit instituted by ex-Gov. Theodore Orji, against his kinsman and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Prince Benjamin Apugo.
When the matter which was filled on September 2020 was called up, Counsels to both parties told the Court presided over by Justice A. O Chijioke, that they were ready for pre-trial hearing.
However, the court was forced to adjourn following the non availability of the First Defendant’s statement of defense in the court file although the Plaintiff’s Counsel, Chief Henry Balogu, admitted that they had been duly served.
Meanwhile, the Court adjourned till June 5th to enable the court registry sort out the missing document and study the First Defendant’s claims.
Later in an interview with newsmen, the First Defendant’s Counsel, Oliver Amuzie, said his client was not denying the said defamatory remarks he allegedly made against the former Governor, claiming “it was a fair comment”.
Amuzie claimed that his client had newspaper publications to back up his allegations.
Prince Apugo, had in 2020, while on a live radio programme, alleged that Orji stole public funds while he held sway as Governor and Chief of Staff to a former Governor respectively.
Irked by the outburst, the former Governor headed for the court where he instituted N1.5 billion suit against the APC chieftain.
Speaking also in an interview, Orji’s lawyer, Chief Balogu, said that the admittance of the allegation by the First Defendant’s Counsel, meant that they had equally admitted its defamatory nature.
He said it then behooves on the Defense to provide evidence that the Plaintiff had been convinced of any financial fraud or embezzlement of public funds by a court of competent jurisdiction.
” The allegation is criminal in nature, and the implication is that he has to show proof that truly, the Plaintiff has been tried and found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
” Note that standing trial for offense does not amount to commission of a crime, and the fact remains that the Plaintiff has not been convicted by any court both in Nigeria and outside the country”, Orji’s lawyer thundered.
He described the allegations as “false and malicious remarks” which he said, were injurious to the personality of his client.
“We are in court because of this defamatory remark that was a material false message that caused my client injury to his person , reputation and was intended to diminish his status as a political leader, former Governor and former Senator.”
Wawa News Global reports that Senator Orji superintend over the affairs of Abia State from 2007 to 2015 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, although he came on board via the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), and had a little stop-over in the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), during his political battle against god-fatherism.
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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