… Says Defendants Not Serious With Out-of-Court Settlement
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has asked a High Court sitting in Makurdi to fix a date for definite hearing in his N10 billion libel suit against former chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, and the APC.
Recall that the former APC Chairman had sought for an out-of-court settlement with Governor Ortom, a move which was communicated to the court on October 13, 2020.
The Presiding Jugde, Justice Augustine Ityonyiman, consequently adjourned the case to October 29, 2020 for report on the out-of-court settlement.
After two adjournments, with the last being on December 16, 2020, the case resumed on Thursday, January 28, 2021, for report on the out-of-court settlement earlier canvassed by Oshiomhole.
Ladi Achibong, who held the brief for Ortom’s counsel, Samuel Irabor, told the court that the out-of-court settlement had failed because it appeared as though the defendants were not serious with the arrangements as earlier canvassed.
She submitted that she had the express instruction of Irabor to ask the court to fix a date for definite hearing of the N10 billion libel suit against Oshiomhole and the APC.
Titus Akuha who held the brief for counsel to Oshiomhole and the APC, Festus Jumbo, opposed the submission of Ortom’s lawyer.
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He said all the terms of settlement had been met, except one issue that was still remaining, adding that the settlement cannot be said to have failed.
Justice Ityoyiman after listening to counsels to the parties in the suit adjourned the case to February 26, 2021, for report on the out-of-court settlement or definite hearing.
Governor Ortom had filed the libel suit against the former APC chairman over his comments against him in an APC sponsored press conference held on July 27, 2018.
Oshiomhole, at the said conference had accused Governor Ortom of having a hand in the death of two Catholic priests and other parishioners at Mbalom Community, Gwer East local government on the grounds that one of the priests had preached a ‘very critical sermon’ against Governor Ortom.
