Supreme court dismisses Dakuku Peterside’s appeal in N6bn defamation suit (updated)

The supreme court has dismissed an appeal filed by Dakuku Peterside, former director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), in a N6 billion defamation suit entered against him.

Peter Odili, former Rivers governor, had, in October 2016, dragged Peterside to court, demanding N6 billion as damages over defamation of the former’s character.

In the suit marked PHC/810/2016, Odili had claimed that Peterside, during a media briefing in Port Harcourt, defamed him by alleging that he aided Nyesom Wike’s supreme court victory because his wife was a justice of the apex court.

Not satisfied with the processes of service, Peterside had filed an objection through a notice of preliminary objection challenging the service of the originating processes

The trial court had dismissed Dakuku’s preliminary objection, a decision upheld by the court of appeal.

Peterside further appealed the verdict of the two lower courts at the supreme court in appeal No. SC. 667/2018.

Delivering its decision on the appeal on Friday, the supreme court dismissed Dakuku’s plea for want of merit.

The lead judgment, which was prepared by Amina Augie, was delivered by Adamu Jauro.

This means the trial can continue before the high court.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect that the case is still on as the supreme court only dismissed the appeal.