Witness narrates how Ex-HoS, allies diverted public funds to private companies in court
Ortom sues Akume for N60b over alleged libel
By Joseph Ayinde
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Friday instituted an N60bn lawsuit against the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, at the Makurdi High Court.
The suit, No. MHC/268/2021, was filed by Okon N. Efut, (SAN), and four other lawyers on behalf of Ortom.
Ortom’s suit followed Akume’s comment during a press conference in Abuja, where the minister accused the governor of ineptitude, disrespect for the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), as well as massive corruption.
In the libel suit, Ortom is seeking N50bn as general damages and another N10bn as exemplary and aggravated damages.
Ortom complained that the press conference was intended to lower his estimation before right-thinking members of society and to expose him to hatred, contempt and ridicule.
He is seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the defendant by himself or through any agent, servants or privies from similar or further publication of any defamatory statement against him.
The court has yet to fix a date for the hearing of the case.
Addressing a press conference on behalf of other leaders of the All Progressives Congress in Benue State on Monday, Akume had called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in Benue State, saying that Ortom had lost control of the security situation in the state.
He also condemned what it called the governor’s “penchant for verbally attacking” President Muhammadu Buhari without regard for his age and office.
Earlier on Friday, the Jemgbagh Unity Forum described Akume’s corruption allegations against Ortom as “most unfortunate and laughable.”
Jemgbagh consists of Buruku, Gboko and Tarka local government areas.
The Leader of the forum, Chief Yandev Amaa-Bai, at a news conference in Makurdi on Friday, wondered when Akume, a former two-term governor of Benue, realised Ortom and his government were corrupt.
