By Ayomikun Fulani
The Court of Appeal in Abuja, has ordered the retrial of the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed in the defamation suit filed against him by the Chairman emeritus, Daar Communication, Chief Raymond Dokpesi.
Delivering judgment, Justice Abraham Goergewill gave the order on an appeal by Chief Dokpesi challenging the decision of the lower court, which held that Dokpesi did not produce enough evidence to prove that the words stated by Lai Mohammed were actually defamatory.
Dokpesi had contended before the court that the Information Minister had called him one of the looters of Nigeria’s treasury.
The appellate court held that the decision of the lower court was erroneous and therefore ordered retrial.
Justice Georgewill therefore ordered that the retrial would be done by any other Judge except Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
(RADIO NIGERIA)
