Edo Court Sets Dec 15 To Determine Thisday’s Status In N1bn Defamation Suit

by Idahosa Moses

The Edo State High Court sitting in Benin on Tuesday adjourned till December 15, 2026, hearing on an application seeking to determine whether ThisDay Newspapers was properly joined as a party to a counterclaim in a N1 billion defamation suit brought by the former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Chief Lawson Omokhodion, against the university’s former Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Onimawo Akhakhia.

The presiding judge, Justice Urho Erameh, fixed the date after listening to the submissions of the counsel to the parties over the proposed amendment of the claimant’s processes and the status of ThisDay Newspapers in the counterclaim.

The suit originated from a N500 million defamation action instituted by Prof. Akhakhia against Omokhodion and SME Media Limited, over alleged libellous statements contained in a book authored by the former Pro-Chancellor.

In Suit No. B/1103/2023, the former Vice-Chancellor is seeking N500 million in damages over alleged defamatory statements in Omokhodion’s book, Lawson A. Omokhodion: Powered by Poverty—A Story of Adversity, Ambition, Diligence and Triumph, particularly the chapter titled Brazen Corruption in the Ivory Tower.

Akhakhia alleged that the publication portrayed him as a thief, corrupt and dishonest person, as well as a fraudster, thereby damaging his reputation and exposing him to public ridicule, embarrassment and emotional distress.

In response, Omokhodion filed a N1 billion counterclaim on April 12, 2024, alleging that the former Vice-Chancellor had also defamed him during a ThisDay Newspapers interview published on September 16, 2020.

The counterclaim arose from a publication titled Corruption: AAU VC, Council Chairman Trade Accusations, which Omokhodion alleged contained false and malicious statements capable of lowering him in the estimation of right-thinking members of society.

He maintained that the contents of his book were accurate and empirically verifiable, while denying allegations that he purchased an official vehicle for N57 million during his tenure as chairman of the university’s Governing Council.

The former Pro-Chancellor is seeking N1 billion in general damages over the alleged defamation and an order compelling Akhakhia and ThisDay Newspapers to publish an unreserved apology prominently in the newspaper.

At the resumed proceedings on Tuesday, counsel to Akhakhia, Prof. Job Odion, told the court that the claimant had filed an application on October 6, 2026, seeking leave to amend his statement of claim and file a reply to the defendant’s counterclaim.

Responding, counsel to Omokhodion, Chief Kingsley Obamogie (SAN), said he had no objection to the proposed amendment, noting that the claimant was seeking to introduce additional facts into the case.

However, Obamogie expressed the expectation that the processes relating to the application would be served on ThisDay Newspapers, which had been joined as a party to the counterclaim.

Raising a concern over the newspaper’s inclusion in the proceedings, Odion questioned whether ThisDay Newspapers was a proper party to the suit, stating that the claimant was not aware of the basis for its joinder.

In opposition, Obamogie argued that there were several legal authorities supporting his client’s decision to join the newspaper as a party to the counterclaim.

After listening to the submissions, Justice Erameh directed counsel to the claimant to bring a formal application before the court if he wished to challenge the propriety of ThisDay Newspapers’ joinder.

The judge noted that the newspaper had already been joined as a party to Omokhodion’s counterclaim and indicated that the question should be properly presented for determination by the court.

Justice Erameh subsequently adjourned the matter till December 15, 2026, for the hearing of the application concerning the newspaper’s status in the proceedings.

Speaking with journalists after the sitting, Obamogie said the claimant had sought to amend his processes to introduce additional facts, adding that his client did not oppose the application.

He explained that the court had directed that the relevant processes be served on ThisDay Newspapers in Lagos to enable the matter to proceed appropriately.

On his part, Odion said the claimant had filed an application to amend his processes, while the defendant had joined a publishing house based in Lagos in his counterclaim.

He added that the court had directed that ThisDay Newspapers be served with the relevant processes ahead of the next hearing.

The case had earlier suffered a setback following the death of the claimant’s lead counsel, Chief Henry Ogbodu (SAN), resulting in an adjournment for the continuation of proceedings.