Anthony Anenih, a key political stalwart to President Goodluck Jonathan and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, has no reputation to protect, a new Benin High Court judgment implies, dismissing a half a billion Naira libel suit he initiated against a spokesman to Edo State governor Adams Oshiomhole.
Chief Anenih, who is also the chairman of the board of the Nigeria Ports Authority, had brought the suit against the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Peter Okhiria, and the Edo State Broadcasting Service (EBS).
In the suit, Chief Anenih claimed that a Press release issued on behalf of the Government by the Chief Press Secretary in 2010 libeled him, and sought N500 million in damages, among others.
In a judgment delivered by Justice U.I Erameh in the consolidated suit, the court held that Mr. Okhiria was protected by the defence of “privileged occasion” on the basis that he acted on the instruction of the governor, as the Chief Security Officer of the State, to educate and inform the public on developments relating to security. Given that such a statement was made by the Chief Press Secretary in his capacity as the spokesman of the government of Edo State, the judge held he could not personally be held liable for libel.
The Judge further noted that prior to the publication of the press release at issue in the consolidated suits in respect of a bomb scare incidence at the premises of Edo State House of Assembly and the Edo State Broadcasting Service, there had been serious security tension in the State. In such circumstances, the publication was necessary so as to keep the public informed of the security situation.
The court however entered judgment against the third defendant, Bendel Newspaper Company Limited, for failure to defend the suit, and awarded minimal cost against it.
The company had sought to defend the suit before the judgment by filing all the necessary court processes but Justice Erameh refused the application to defend the suit on the merit on the ground that it failed to enter its appearance timeously.
The State Solicitor-General, Wole Iyamu Esq said Bendel Newspaper has already filed a notice of appeal and stay of execution against the said judgment as it concerns Bendel Newspaper Limited.
The court also awarded N50,000 costs against Chief Anenih in favour of the Chief press Secretary and Edo Broadcasting Service.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor was represented by Stanley Omeike Imhanruor of Femi Falana Chambers; while Edo Broadcasting Service was represented by O.A Otamere.
Chief Anenih, the former Minister of Works during the first term of President Olusegun Obasanjo, has suffered a series of political reverses to Governor Oshiomhole, including the loss of the Edo governorship, as well as electoral losses even in Uromi, Chief Anenih’s hometown. He was represented in the libel suit by Chief Alfred Eghobamien.
It would be recalled that at the end of his tenure as Minister, Chief Anenih was embroiled in a national scandal when former Abia State governor, Orji Kalu, called for him to investigated, as about N300billion that had been budgeted for roads during his tenure had failed to yield any roads.
More recently, in May 2014, Lucky Igbinedion, a former Edo State governor, told journalists that during his governorship, he often borrowed money to pay salaries from his father, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, and Chief Anenih, a former policeman.