Justice M.I Sule of Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has granted an order of substituted service on the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Gani Adams in an alleged defamatory suit filed against him by Yoruba nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, otherwise known as Sunday Igboho.

In suit number I/406/2024, Igboho who is the plaintiff is praying for an order compelling the defendant to pay a sum of N500 million as aggravated damages over a leaked audio conversation, which he claimed rubbished his reputation.

According to the writ of summon, Igboho is seeking among others, “a declaration that the content of an audio clip between the defendant (Adams) and a third party named Nuru Banjo that took place sometime in November 2021 and further published on all new media platforms, including YouTube, is slanderous, libellous and defamatory.

However, in a certified true copy of the enrollment of order, issued on Wednesday, May 8, the court ordered that the motion exparte be served on the defendant through substituted service by pasting it on the walls or gates of his residence at No 14, Ezekiel Street, off Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos state.

Justice Sule declared that: “I have perused the processes filed in support of the instant application. The gist of the application is that the bailiff of this court made an attempt at personal service, but was told the defendant was not around at his residence at 14, Ezekiel Street, off Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos State, hence the instant application. The affidavit of non-service to that effect was filed on April 3, 2024.

“In consequence whereof, I hereby grant the application in the overall interest of justice. Consequently, the claimant/applicant is hereby granted leave to serve his originating and any other processes on the defendants by substituted means to wit: through the law firm of the solicitors to the defendant. Service in the manner hereby ordered shall constitute proper service on the defendant, “he stated.

Justice Sule subsequently adjourned the matter to June 26, 2024.

It will be recalled that Igboho in the suit is seeking “an order of the court directing the defendant to publicly retract the slanderous, libelous and defamatory content contained in the publication to Nuru Banjo which was further published on all new media platforms including Youtube where the claimant was defamed, maligned and disparaged by the defendant in the conversation published in November 2021 by the defendant.

And “an order of this honourable court for the payment of exemplary and aggravated damages in the sum of N500 million in favour of the claimant for defamation of the person of the claimant by the defendant.” (The Nation)

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