A former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Dr Dakuku Peterside, has lost his suit challenging a N6 billion defamation suit slammed against him by ex-Governor of the state, Dr Peter Odili.
The Supreme Court, in a judgment on Friday, dismissed Peterside’s appeal as lacking in merit.
The apex court handed down a unanimous judgment by a five-man panel of Justices.
The lead judgment was prepared by Justice Amina Augie but delivered by Justice Adamu Jauro.
Odili had in October 2016, instituted a suit at the Federal High Court Port-Harcourt, claiming that Peterside who was then the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, defamed him through a newspaper publication in February 2016, and consequently demanded N6 billion damages as compensation.
Peterside was alleged to have said at a press conference that Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, had during a victory thanksgiving service, said Odili helped him (Wike) to secure the judgment that gave him (Wike) victory.
Odili described the statement credited to Peterside as false and malicious, insisting that Wike never said that he (Odili) helped him to secure election victory at the Supreme Court.
Odili had through his team of lawyers led by a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Kanu Agabi (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the appeal by Peterside and enter judgment in his favour.
However, the Counsel to the appellant, Mr Damian Okoro, urged the Supreme Court to allow the appeal, but was refused on Friday.
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