Ateke Slams N1bn Suit Against 8 APC Chieftains
The Amanyanabo of Okochiri clan in Okirika Local Government Area of Rivers State, His Royal Majesty, King Ateke Tom, has filed a N1 billion suit against eight chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state over alleged defamation.
In the suit before a state High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Ateke, who is an ex-Niger Delta agitator, is further demanding an apology from the APC chieftains on national newspapers for denting his image and character.
The defendants in the suit are Asita O. Asita, deputy governorship candidate of APC in the 2015 election; Dr. Davies Ikanya, the Chairman of APC in the state; Dumo Lulu Briggs; Sampson Ngerigbara, Prince Tonye Princewill; Sekonte Davies; Emeka Beke, Secretary of the APC in the state and Lawrence Chuku.
The suit followed a pro-SARS rally organised in Port Harcourt by the APC in which Ateke’s picture was printed in a banner and allegedly described as a criminal made king by the state government.
Ateke also wants the court to compel the defendants to jointly and or severally pay him the sum of N1 billion for libel and defamation of his character.
He further wants the court to direct the defendants to render a written apology in a prominent and conspicuous medium retracting the said offensive banner publication in three national dailies.
