A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has reserved judgement in a N500 million libel suit instituted by a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, against a career ambassador, Lilian Onoh. The court will also deliver a verdict in a counterclaim filed by Ambassador Onoh against Onyeama, in which she is asking…
Onyeama had sued Ms. Onoh, an ambassador in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who is also a sister to his former wife, for libel, alleging that she defamed him in several memos she sent to then-President Muhammadu Buhari while he was the minister. Onoh alleged large-scale stealing by staff members of the foreign service of funds belonging to Nigerian embassies and high commissions.
Elachi said the former minister had discharged the burden of proof placed on him by providing “credible evidence” in substantiating his claims. Elachi further said Ms. Onoh was precluded from questioning Mr. Onyeama’s identity because she did not tender any evidence to refute the former minister’s identity in the suit.
In the final written address, Okpor contended that the service of “an expired” court document on Ms. Onoh’s former lawyer in the case, “Richard Aneke, in September 2023, was unlawful.” “The court is asked to grant the 1st defendant’s request for legal costs totaling N15 million, and personal costs of USD160,000 being the lost income incurred by her since July 2023 when she became seized with this malicious suit by the claimant,” Mr. Okpor prayed the court.Meanwhile, the other defendants in the case did not put up any legal representation during the hearing.
Members of the House of Representatives in the botched Third Republic have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the payment of their outstanding salaries and allowances.