King Ateke Tom gets court order to serve APC chieftains in libel suit

Friday, March 9, 2018 9:51 pm

King Ateke Tom

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

A Port Harcourt High Court has granted the request of the King of Okochiri, in Okrika local government area of Rivers State, High Chief Ateke Micheal Tom to serve court summons through substituted service in a libel suit he instituted against eight members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, led by the deputy governorship candidate of the party during the 2015 general elections.

Justice S .D.Green granted order that the summons for the APC chieftains could be served through newspaper publications or pasted in places approved by the court following the complaints of Mr. Granville Abebo, SAN, counsel to King Ateke that the defendants have been evading service and court summons.

No counsel represented the APC chieftains during the court hearing.

The Court adjourned until May 9 for per-trial conference.

Counsel to Ateke Tom told journalists that his client will follow up the case until justice is done.

Peter Edochie, a Nollywood star led some actors to court in solidarity with Ateke Tom.

It will be recalled that some APC Chieftains had while speaking in support of Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS at a rally last year carried a banner with Ateke Tom’s photo inscriptions which Ateke Tom was injurious to his reputation.