December 1, 2021

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers has appeared before a Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt, to testify as a witness in a N7 billion libel suit against ThisDay newspaper.

Thisday had published a story with the caption “With Wike, Obaseki Meets His PDP’S Waterloo; Almost” on June 23, 2020 in the run up to the Edo governorship election last year.

Governor Wike quickly addressed a press conference in which he threatened to sue Thisday for allegedly defaming his character. He described the report as malicious.

He made good his threat  on August 2020  when he sued the newspaper.

Other defendants in the suit are Leaders and Company Limited’s (ThisDay’s parent company) Davidson Iriekpen, Chuks Okocha and Adibe Emenyonu, all editorial staff of the newspaper.

The Governor told the court, which was presided over by Justice Adolphus Enebeli that the publication portrayed him as deceitful and an unreliable person who exerts great influence on judicial matters and over court sittings in Port Harcourt.

In his written statement on oath, Governor Wike stated that the defendants accused him of influencing the decision of the Court sitting in Port Harcourt that granted an injunction restraining Godwin Obaseki from participating in the primaries of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State in 2020 to favour his ally, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, who was the beneficiary of the order.

The court adjourned the matter for further hearing to 12th, 13th and 14th of January 2022.