A suspended member of the Edo State House of Assembly, Barrister Emankhu Isibor Addeh, has taken legal action against the Assembly Speaker, Honourable Blessing Agbebaku, and seven others at the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged libel and defamation.
The claimant, representing Esan North-East I Constituency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is seeking N3 billion in damages from the defendants, which also included seven media companies.
On March 8, Hon. Agbebaku suspended the claimant and two other lawmakers: Hon. Bright Iyamu, representing Orhionmwon II Constituency, and Hon. Donald Okogbe, representing Akoko-Edo II Constituency, both of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and loyalists of the recently impeached deputy governor of the state, Comrade Phillip Shaibu.
Agbebaku claimed that they attempted to change the house leadership and brought a herbalist to the Assembly to plant charms on the premises.
However, in the suit number FCT/HC/CVI/2856/2024, filed by his counsel, Nnaemeka J.J. Okeke, Esq., Addeh said Speaker Agbebaku alleged that on April 30, the three lawmakers brought a herbalist to the Assembly premises at 1 a.m. to plant charms, unaware that CCTV cameras would capture their actions, and accused them of attempting to create “satanic disorder” in the Assembly.
He further claimed that the natural and ordinary meaning of the words used by the speaker, published and rebroadcast by the media houses, implied that he (the claimant) engages in fetish practices, is diabolical, and is a pagan.
“The words used in paragraphs 6 and 8 of the publications and rebroadcast reports by the media houses are calculated to disparage the claimant personally and politically,” Addeh said.
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