Information Minister’s N500m libel suit against Metuh for mediation - Judge

Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of an Ikeja High Court on Wednesday ordered that the N500million libel suit filed by Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture, against Mr Olisa Metuh, the PDP’s spokesman, should go to mediation court.

"The file should be taken to the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Prompt Administrator to set the ADR in motion.

Earlier at the proceedings, Metuh's lawyer Mr U.A. Otoahine, filed two applications dated April 25 which were granted by the court.

He said: "My Lord, the first application is requesting for an extension of time to file the statement of defence and originating processes.

"The second application is seeking an extension of time to file a counter-affidavit."

The judge, however, refused to hear the application brought by counsel to the minister, Mr Wahab Shittu that the case should be set down for trial.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mohammed, a former spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had on Oct. 12, 2015 filed a suit against Metuh, accusing him of publishing libelous materials against him.

Mohammed alleged that Metuh had falsely accused him of embezzling funds meant to build a fence at an airport in one of the South-west states under the control of APC.

The publication also alleged that Mohammed had obtained funds to supply ambulances to the South-west state, but failed to do so.

The minister is demanding a compensation of N500 million on account of the alleged false publications against him.

Justice Ipaye adjourned the case to June 13 for a progress report from the ADR centre.