Ibrahim Khalil Aminu & Atika Balal
7 November 2008
An FCT High Court sitting in Gudu yesterday granted Vice President Goodluck Jonathan leave to serve court papers on officials of the SPYNET magazine at places outside the jurisdiction of the court.
The VP had filed a suit against SPYNET Magazine, the Chief Executive Officer of the company and two reporters who wrote stories allegedly injuring his reputation.
Jonathan alleged that the magazine on August 6 and October 22, 2007 published stories aimed at defaming his character.
The stories, according to his counsel, were captioned "The face of fraud: How he managed Bayelsa State" and "A blind adventure."
The VP's counsel said by publishing these stories "the plaintiff has been greatly injured in his credits, reputation, character and political personality."
Jonathan prayed the court to award against the defendants jointly and severally the sum of N50 billion as general damages for libel.
The VP also sought for an order of the court compelling the defendants to render a written apology to him as well as retract the libelous publications in a special edition of their magazine.
The VP's counsel filed a motion seeking leave of the court to serve the defendants outside jurisdiction of the court.
The court presided over by Justice A. A. Banjoko granted this plea and adjourned the case to January 10, 2009 for further hearing.
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