Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, on Friday instituted a N60 billion suit 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.
Governor Ortom is seeking N50 billion as general damages for libel and N10 billion as exemplary and aggravated damages.
The writ of summons was backed by 17-paragraph statement of claim.
In the statement of claim, Governor Ortom is seeking a declaration that the text of Senator Akume’s press conference on 30th August, 2021, in Abuja and the reports in various national dailies is scandalous, malicious and injurious to his person.
He complained that the press conference was intended to lower his estimation before right-thinking members of the society and to expose him to hatred, contempt and ridicule.
The Governor is seeking 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.
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.
No date has yet been fixed for the case.