An Abuja Chief Magistrates’ Court has stayed proceedings in a defamation suit filed by Gov. Gabriel Suswam of Benue against Kaduna-based Power Steering Magazine.
Chief Magistrate Hafsat Soso-Sadiq stayed the proceedings in Abuja on Friday following an order from a superior court.
“In view of the order obtained from the FCT High Court, dated May 10, the court is hereby compelled to stay proceedings on this suit pending the determination of a motion filed in that court by the counsel to the defendants,’’ she said.
The chief magistrate refused to extend the order of the superior court to a similar case where only Ukpabi is standing trial for alleged criminal extortion of the governor.
Soso-Sadiq??held that the High Court’s order was not directed at the second suit, adding that Ukpabi must be allowed to face the trial.
Mr Alexander Oketa, counsel to the defendants, had approached Justice O.O. Goodluck of the FCT High Court in Zuba with an exparte motion for leave to enable the applicants to apply for a judicial review of the proceedings so far.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Chidozie Ukpabi and Dan Ekah are the other defendants in the matter.
The counsel submitted that the defendants were not comfortable with alleged overbearing involvement of Soso-Sadiq in the matter.
Oketa said that the order from the superior court must be honoured, adding that the two suits were interwoven.
“Your worship, the order also extends to this suit in view of the fact that the parties are the same?and the chief magistrate is the same?and the issues raised in the suit are intertwined,’’ he said.
Mr Simon Lough, the prosecution counsel, opposed the argument canvassed by Oketa, stressing that the suits were different and should be treated as such.
The chief magistrate adjourned the case to June 1, for continuation of cross examination of prosecution witnesses. (NAN)