A High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital has ordered one Leo Ekpenyong, to pay a sum of N1.5 billion as damages to the State Governor, Udom Emmanuel over libelous publications in an online newspaper.
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The said Order was made in Suit No: HU/279/2019 between Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel ( Claimant ) and Leo Ekpenyong Esq. ( Defendant ) in the High Court of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria in the Uyo Judicial Division Holden at Uyo.
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The Judgment, which was delivered by Hon. Justice E. F. F. Obot, reads; “After hearing, Inimfon Eddie, Esq. of Counsel for the claimant applying to the Court to invoke the provisions of Order 25 Rule 6 (b) of the Akwa Ibom State High Court (Civil Procedure ) Rules, 2009 in view of the defendant who was absent, unrepresented and substantially unprepared to participate in the Pre-trial Conference, the application is granted as prayed.”
The Court consequently ordered the defendant to pay the sum of N1.5 billion only to the claimant as general damages, write and publish an apology to the governor in his online newspaper called METRODAILY NG. COM used by the defendant to publish the libelous article and that pay another N100,000.00 as cost of this action.
The decision of the court is largely consequent upon the deliberate refusal of the defendant to appear in court to defend the claims against him despite several adjournments at his instance.
