MAGU VS SUN NEWSPAPERS: COURT ORDERS SERVICE OF MOTION EXPARTE ON REPORTERS

IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, today ordered that a motion exparte filled by Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu be served on three journalists working with the Sun Newspaper.

Magu had earlier this year dragged the Sun Newspaper before the Lagos High Court over what he claims were false and malicious publications against his person.

Joined in the suit as co-defendants are the Editor, Saturday Sun, Fred Itua, James Ojo and Lawrence Enyoghase.

The EFCC boss is seeking N5billion compensation for the alleged libellous imputations and statements made against him in a story published on the March 25, 2017 edition of the Saturday Sun.

Magu contended that the publication captioned “Magu under Fresh Probe over 2 Abuja Mansions” and authored by Fred Itua, James Ojo and Lawrene Enyoghasu, “willfully and maliciously made false, destructive, and defamatory statements against him

The report had alleged that the EFCC Boss purchased for himself two mansions on different streets in the highbrow Maitama area of Abuja.

Magu however reiterated that neither himself nor his wife owned any property in Maitama.

In addition to the demand for N5 billion compensation, Magu demanded that the publishers issue a public apology and immediate retraction in writing of these false libelous statements, within seven days of the publication.

Sun Newspapers refused to published a retraction prompting Magu to eventually file the suit.

At Wednesday’s proceeding Magu lawyer, Wahab Shittu moved a motion exparte seeking to serve the originating processes on the three reporters who authored the publication by pasting it on their last known address given as No. 2 Coscharis Street, Off Happy Home Avenue, Kirikiri Industrial Layout, Apapa, Lagos.

The motion was promptly granted by Justice Oyefeso. The matter was subsequently adjourned to November 15, 2017 for trial.