The Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Eket has struck out the defamation suit filed by Mr. Ukeme Umoren against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over allegations relating to organ harvesting, dealing a major legal setback to the claimant and a significant victory for the Kogi Central Senator.
The suit, which was widely alleged in political circles to have been instituted in defence of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, came to an abrupt end after the court upheld key aspects of the defendant’s preliminary objection.
Delivering his ruling, Hon. Justice Pius P. Idiong held that the claimant lacked the legal standing required to maintain an action in defamation because he was not mentioned in the publication complained of.
According to the court, “the claimant was not mentioned in the alleged defamatory publication and therefore lacked the locus standi to maintain the suit.”
The court further agreed with the defence that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan neither authored nor originated the statements complained of by the claimant.
Justice Idiong held that “the defendant did not publish or cause to be published the alleged statement complained of,” thereby affirming the argument that the statements were merely a republication of information that had already entered the public domain.
The ruling effectively dismantled the foundation of the suit, as the court found that the claimant had failed to establish the essential legal ingredients required to sustain a defamation action.
Although the court upheld the preliminary objection, it declined to dismiss the matter outright. Instead, the presiding judge ordered that the case be struck out.
“Consequently, the suit is struck out,” Justice Idiong ruled.
No order was made as to costs.
Legal analysts described the judgment as a reaffirmation of established principles of defamation law, particularly the requirement that a claimant must demonstrate that the alleged defamatory publication directly refers to him and that he possesses the requisite legal standing to seek judicial remedy.
The ruling is expected to intensify public and political discussions surrounding the controversy, especially given widespread allegations that the action was aimed at defending the reputation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who was not a party to the proceedings before the court.
For Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and her legal team, the judgment represents a decisive courtroom victory, with the court accepting the argument that the statements complained of neither originated from her nor were first published by her.
The certified true copy of the ruling is expected to be released by the court in the coming days.
