From Vincent Odozi in Benin
Edo state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has dragged a dead Journalist Ahmed Asekome and his soft sell news magazine, News of the People to a Benin High Court for libel.
In the case No. B/556/2011, between Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Dockland Communications Limited, publishers of News of the People magazine, the governor alleged that the content of the publication which was published sometimes last year carried on the front page and page 19 titled “Oshiomhole’s Sex Power Exposed: Impregnates young girl six months after death of wife.” Was libelous to him
He further told the court presided over by Justice (Mrs.) Efe Ikponmwonba that in the edition, he was also alleged to have bought the girl a Jeep; that he was interfering in academics of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma on behalf of the girl, and that he used sexual performance enhancement drugs and that he has done traditional marriage to the alleged girl, adding that the edition which was widely circulated coincide with the preparations of one of his daughter’s wedding.
Asked by the lead prosecuting counsel K. O. Igiebor why he was demanding for damages, the governor who personally testified as PW/1, replied that the said publication caused him and his children serious psychological trauma six months after the death of his wife.
“When I called a brother governor to sponsor my daughter’s wedding, the governor said he was confused, and asked me if I was the one doing the marriage or my daughter, adding that he was reading a magazine which said that he (Oshiomhole) was about getting married to a university student, and that the said wife to be was already pregnant.”
The governor added that the publication also alleged that he had marathon sex with a female partner in Lagos who fainted under him, adding that he could not have been preparing for another wedding just 6-months after his wife’s death.
The governor who is claiming millions of naira for damages averred that the said publication reduced his reputation in the estimation of the responsible and reasonable members of the public.
The former Edo correspondent of the News of the People who was said to have written the story Ahmed Asekome died last year after a brief illness.
Justice Mrs. Ikpomwonba thereafter adjourned the case to the 25th of June, 2012 for proper hearing.
