Secondus vs Lai: Case can be heard in Port Harcourt – Court rules

The High court sitting in Port Harcourt has said it has jurisdiction
to hear a defamation suit filed by the National chairman of Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus against the Minister for
information and Culture, Lai Mohammed and Vintage Quest Limited,
publishers of a national daily.

The decision of the court came following a motion of preliminary
objection moved by the defence that the court lacks the jurisdiction
to hear the matter, since the publishing company is based in Lagos.

Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Adama Iyaye Laminkara who
presided over the matter, said the publication where the name of
Secondus was listed as a corrupt individual was distributed and read
in Port Harcourt despite its publication in Lagos.

Justice Lamikanra, on that ground, upheld that the defamation suit can
be instituted and heard in Port Harcourt.

The Chief Judge however fixed October 29 for hearing on the substantive matter.

Outside the court, Echezona Etiaba, who is counsel to the applicant,
Prince Uche Secondus, said challenging the jurisdiction of the court
was ploy to delay the matter.

"I am sure they know very well that the matter can be heard here in
Port Harcourt. Challenging the jurisdiction is just a delay tactics.

"Thank God the court has addressed that issue. So by the next time we
come to court it will be to do the main matter," Etiaba said.

Counsel to Minister for information and Vintage Quest Company were not
present in court.

National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus is asking for one point
five billion naira in damages from the Minister of Information, Lai
Mohammed for publishing his name in the looters list.