PDP Chairmanship: Court Strikes Out Dino Melaye’s Suit

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A High Court of the FCT sitting in Nyanya, on Thursday, struck out a case filed by Dino Melaye against the Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ijumu local government chapter, Hon. Joseph Abejide and two others.

Justice Edward Okpe struck out the lack for lack of diligent prosecution.

Dino had dragged Abejide, Hon. S.K Adekunle, a former member, Kogi State House of Assembly and Kogi Reports online newspaper over the publication of a petition addressed to the state chairman of PDP, Engr. Sam Uhuotu accusing him of undemocratic acts in the local government chapter of the party.

The aggrieved party chieftains accused Dino of imposing his stooge, Bode Samuel Olorunmaiye, as party chairman.

In the petition signed by Adekunle, on behalf of Ijumu-Arin PDP leaders and members, they insisted that Dino’s stooge was not an aspirant for the position and was not elected during the party’s congress monitored by INEC, security agencies and the state leadership of PDP.

“We state clearly that one Mr. Bode Samuel imposed by Dino Melaye and his co-travellers is not a member of PDP and his name is not in Iyara Ward PDP membership register. He never partook in the primary that produced the winner. He is a member of APC and Iyara Ward coordinator for AVM Jubril Isah during the 2019 governorship primary of APC. He was Dino’s surrogate when he defected to APC,” the petition read in part.

Evidently angered by the petition and the widespread coverage it enjoyed upon publication by Kogi Reports, Dino resorted to litigation, alleging libel.

The suit filed at the High Court of FCT by Dino on 14th December 2021 listed Hon S.K Adekunle, Abejide Joseph and Kogi Reports Online Newspaper as defendants.

He prayed the court to order that the defendants pay N2 Billion as damages for the libelous publication which he said has caused him, his children, family member and business associates mental and physical agony.

He also demanded a court order for payment of N50m being special damages on the claim that he lost potential income from an unspecified contract awarded him by an unnamed company in Netherlands that was aborted upon reading the publication.

Speaking with our reporter, the defense counsel, Barr. John Mark said Dino and his counsel were in court for time wasting exercise.

“The matter came up today for hearing and their lawyers were not in court. The last time the matter came up, they pleaded for an adjournment to file some papers which we reluctantly conceded to.

“At the resumed hearing, they were not in court. Obviously, they don’t have a defense to the arguments we have presented before the court.

“Today, we told the court that they can not continue to waste our time, it is apparent they don’t have a good case. We prayed the court to dismiss the suit for lack of diligent prosecution and the court agreed with us and accordingly struck out the matter. As it is, the matter is struck out, it is not existent and in the eyes of the law , the matter like that was never filed,” he said.


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