The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Jabi, Abuja, has adjourned further hearing in the N550 million defamation lawsuit filed by Senator Chris Anyanwu against former Imo State Governor Ikedi Ohakim until March 17.
The hearing, scheduled for yesterday, was postponed after Justice M. I. Sani was reported indisposed. This marks the fourth adjournment since proceedings began on October 13 last year.
Anyanwu filed the suit over comments allegedly made by Ohakim in an interview published in the January 12 edition of The Nation newspaper, which she claims were defamatory. She is seeking N550 million in damages and a public apology to be published in two national newspapers.
Following the lawsuit, The Nation, named as the second defendant, issued a full retraction and public apology on June 1, leading to its removal from the case.
So far, only one of the five witnesses listed by Senator Anyanwu has testified. Reacting to the latest adjournment, the Senator expressed sympathy for the judge and urged for a swift resumption of proceedings upon the judge’s return.