By Kayode Adeoti
A Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin will today continue suit of the online medium, Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore seeking to set aside N4bn judgment’s fine awarded against him for allegedly publishing libellous stories against the person of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.
Sowore, through his counsel has faulted the judgement on the basis that he was not served any writ of summon or any court process to defend his write-ups.
At the last adjourned date, counsel to the online medium, Femi Falana (SAN) who was represented by Stanley Ihmaruo prayed the court to set aside the judgment by the trial judge, Justice Sikiru Oyinloye.
But the court ruled that the motion is not matured for hearing and that the judgement creditor is still within time to respond to same.
Ihmaruo argued that his client was not served any court process by Saraki’s counsel before the judgement was delivered and prayed for stay of proceedings.
According to him, “We want the court to set aside the entire proceedings. We’ve filed other papers restraining the order in the proceedings. When the matter came up, the judgement creditors respondents could not respond to our papers for the hearing of our applications,” he said.
But, counsel to Senate President, Paul Erokoro (SAN) had told the court that the judgement debtor served them the motion on the 23th of last month, saying they are still within time frame to file the responses.
He argued further that the rule say they can file in the responses to the motion of the credit debtor after 7days, adding that it was only 6days after. He noted that they never violated the law, adding that “In this case, adjournment is inevitable,”
The case was later adjourned to today, 14th September, 2017 for continuation of the matter.
