Looters list: Court restrains FG from further mentioning PDP chairman

A Rivers High Court in Port Harcourt has restrained the Federal Government from further mentioning Prince Uche Secondus, the National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the looters’ list recently published by the government.

The Chief Judge of Rivers, Justice Adama Iyayi-Lamikanra, who gave the order on Monday, also ordered that the hearing notice be served the respondents by the plaintiff.

The order followed a motion brought by Secondus seeking an  interlocutory injunction against further publication of his name on the list.

Secondus, in Suit PHC/1013/2018, is suing the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Federal Government and Vintage Press for alleged libel.

He is asking the court to award him N1.5 billion damages for the alleged libel.

He said listing him as a looter who collected N200 million on Feb. 19, 2015 from the Office of the National Security Adviser was libellous.

The PDP chairman’s  counsel, Mr Emeka Etiaba (SAN), said that the judge could hear the suit because his client was defamed by the publication.

The respondents were not present in court and the judge adjourned the matter until April 28.