Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, George Akume, has asked a Makurdi High Court to grant him additional time to file his memorandum of conditional appearance in the N60 billion suit instituted against him by Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom.
The request was contained in a motion filed by his lawyer, S. I Ameh (SAN).
Counsel to Governor Ortom, Okon Efute (SAN) did not oppose the application by Akume’s lawyer.
The presiding judge, Justice Augustine Ityonyiman granted the motion.
Consequently, Akume’s lawyer, who had three pending processes before the court withdrew his notice of preliminary objection filed on the 26th October 2021 and filed a motion on notice praying the court to set aside the issuance and service of the writ of summons and also strike out the suit for want of jurisdiction.
The motion is also seeking the court to set aside its orders made on the 29th September 2021 for substitute service of the court processes on Akume, claiming it was obtained by fraud.
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Governor Ortom’s lawyer submitted that the motion was filed and served on him a few minutes to the time of the court, describing it as a subtle way of applying for an adjournment.
He told the court that he will respond to the motion appropriately, within the time stipulated by the law and in line with the rules of the court.
Justice Ityonyiman adjourned the matter to December 10th, 2021 for hearing of the motion filed by Akume, seeking to set aside the order or substituted service on him and to also stop the suit.
Governor Ortom instituted the suit against the Minister over his comments at a press conference on Monday, 30th August 2021, and the reports that ensued in various national dailies describing them as scandalous, malicious and injurious to his person.
Governor Ortom is seeking N50 billion as general damages for libel and N10 billion as exemplary and aggravated damages.
By Doofan Aga Editor: Oloyede Oworu
