Edison Ehie, Chief of Staff to the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has filed a ₦2 billion libel suit against former Head of Service, George Nwaeke, and Channels Incorporated Limited.
The suit, lodged at the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt, follows a televised interview aired by Channels Television on March 29, 2025, in which Nwaeke allegedly accused Ehie of orchestrating the fire that razed the Rivers State House of Assembly complex and made other defamatory claims.
Ehie, in his statement of claim, described the allegations as “baseless and unfounded,” asserting that they had caused him immense reputational harm, lowering him in the estimation of the public and society at large.
He contends that the allegations were malicious and disparaging, and that they injured his credit, character, and integrity in the eyes of the public.
He is seeking ₦2 billion as general damages, claiming the defamatory broadcast caused significant harm to his reputation.
As part of the suit, Ehie has requested the court to issue a perpetual injunction against the defendants, preventing them or their agents from further disseminating the defamatory content.
He also seeks an order for an immediate retraction of the false publication, along with a public apology to be broadcast on Channels Television and published in two national newspapers with widespread circulation.
The court, presided over by Justice Jumbo Stephens, has already issued an order of substituted service on the defendants.
The judge granted Ehie permission to serve the originating processes to Nwaeke by posting them at the entrance of his residence in Old GRA, Port Harcourt. Additionally, the court ordered that the originating processes be published in a daily newspaper with nationwide circulation, including Abuja, FCT.
The case has been adjourned to April 10, 2025, for proof of service.