Mr. Ben Obuh, a PDP Chieftain in Ika South and Vice chairman PDP Delta North and former PDP aspirant to the Federal House of Representatives for Ika Federal constituency has sued Dr. Joseph Onyeche of Ikaworld.com, for a news article titled "Re-run Intrigues in Ika South: is Obuh stepping down for Hon. Uboh?" published in Ikaworld.com.
Mr. Ben Obuh, through his lawyer, Barr. Benson Melekwe, in his statement of claim is claiming that the news article published in ikaworld.com about the intrigue within Ika PDP, following their flawed primary to elect a PDP flag bearer for the Federal House of Representatives for Ika Federal constituency, is libelous.
He is seeking damages to the tune of One hundred million naira for libel against Dr. Onyeche for the publication and/or circulation of the libel contained on Ikaworld.com.
He is also asking the court for injunction restraining Dr. Onyeche or anyone working for him from writing any thing against the person of Mr. Ben Obuh.
Barr. Ifeanyi Agholor, a renowned Ika human rights activist, representing Ikaworld.com and Dr. Onyeche has shrugged off the suite as lacking merit. The case will come up for hearing at Agbor High Court soon.
Dr. Onyeche, in a restrained comment, said that he will comment extensively on this matter on a later date an as events unfold. He however stated that this is the most time wasting and crazy lawsuit anyone could cook up. In his words, "just when you think Ika politicians have reached their peak, they amaze you even more. This is mind buggling but we shall see where this leads."
In their reaction, members of the board of directors of Ika World Foundation are reassuring all contributors and volunteers at Ikaworld.com that the website is resolved to continuing its activities in bringing news and articles concerning events in Ika land to all Ika people all over the world. No amount of intimidation will change that. This lawsuit is perceived by all reasonable persons as an attempt to silence and or scare Ika people from exercising their right to free speech. In this instance, Dr. Onyeche is only a symbol but all Ika people are the target.
Ikaworld.com will be running constant update on this ever developing story.
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