A high court sitting in Benin City, Edo state, has thrown out a N500 million libel suit by Peoples Democratic party (PDP), Tony Anenih against Peter Okhiria, the chief press secretary to Edo state governor Adams Oshiomole and the Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS), Thisday reports.
The PDP chieftain had sued both defendants over a press statement issued on behalf of the government by Okhiria in 2010, saying it was libelous, claiming N500 million in damages.
The judgement which was delivered by Justice U.I Erameh said the defendants were acting on instruction of the chief security officer of the state to educate and inform the public on the security situation in the state and should not be held guilty of libel.
The judge also said before the press release was published, there were reports of a bomb scare at the Edo state house of assembly and the EBS, causing considerable tension among the citizenry.
