The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, on Friday dragged 247Ureport, an
online medium and its Editor-In-Chief to court, demanding N5
billion in damages.
The suit was over a libelous publication on May 21, 2018.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the title of the
said report was: “Buhari holds secret talk with Sheriff to push for
2019 EFCC Chairman’s Guber ambition.”
It was also gathered that the said report contradicted the will
of the acting chairman of the EFCC who hails from Borno and that
there was no such ambition.
The acting chairman, in his originating summons before the
court, prayed for a declaration that the publication made by the
media house amounted to libel.
He also prayed for an order restraining the media house and its
agent from further publishing any other report damaging to his
person.
He also prayed for an order of the court awarding N5 Billion
fine on the defendants as general damages.
Mr Magu prayed for an order of the court directing the
defendants to tender a public apology to him in regards to the
false and misleading information.
At the resumed hearing of the matter on Friday, the EFCC
counsel, Daniel Bwala, prayed the court for a short adjournment on
the grounds that the senior counsel who was handling the matter was
not around.
On his part, the defendant’s counsel, Nnamani Ogbonna, also
prayed the court for an adjournment on the grounds that he was yet
to be briefed.
“I align myself with the prayers of the EFCC counsel. We are
only asking for a long adjournment to allow us prepare,” he
said.
Meanwhile, Justice Danlami Senchi adjourned the matter until
June 20 for hearing.
(NAN)
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