Edison Ehie, Chief of Staff to Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has initiated legal proceedings against George Nwaeke, former Head of Civil Service, and Channels Television, citing damaging and false accusations.
Ehie is claiming N2 billion in damages in a defamation lawsuit filed after Nwaeke allegedly accused him of masterminding the 2023 fire that destroyed the Rivers State House of Assembly complex during a Channels TV interview on March 29.
Ehie claims in the lawsuit that the allegations are completely unfounded and have significantly damaged his reputation and public image. He asserts that the broadcast not only exposed him to public mockery but also harmed his character and integrity.
On Monday, Jumbo Stephens, a judge at the high court in Port Harcourt, ruled that Nwaeke be served the originating processes in the suit via substituted means.
The judge ruled that the processes should be pasted at the first defendant’s residence in Port Harcourt and published in a national newspaper.
“An order for immediate retraction of the said publication and an apology to the claimant by the defendants for the said invidious and libelous publication forthwith and same to be widely publicized in the second defendant’s (Channels TV) television network, another television network and two newspapers with nationwide leadership in Nigeria,” part of the court documents reads.
Ehie requested that the court issue an injunction to prevent the defendants from further disseminating or publishing malicious information about him. He also sought N2 billion in general damages from the defendants.
