Lagos- A Federal High Court, Lagos on Wednesday, granted leave for substituted service of court processes, on Chinedu Orji, son of Abia State Governor, over alleged office invasion.
Justice Mohammed Idris, granted leave to The Sun Publishing Ltd, to serve the processes by substituted means on the respondents by publishing same in the national dailies.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that The Sun Publishing LTD had filed the suit alongside former Abia State governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, seeking an order, restraining the respondents from unlawfully interfering with The Sun’s publication.
Also joined in the suit are the Attorney General of Abia State, Inspector General of Police (IGP), and Commissioner of Police Abia State.
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The applicants had instituted the suit through their counsel, Mr Charles Enwelunta, over alleged continuous harassment, intimidation and unwarranted invasion of its office by the agents of the respondents.
They are seeking a declaration that The Sun Publishing LTD being a registered publishing company had a constitutional right to publish news item, opinions, and commentaries, within the confines of the law. an
They are also seeking a declaration that the second applicant, Orji Uzor Kalu, a publisher and columnist with the first applicant, had a constitutional right to freely express his opinion on diverse national, economic, and socio-political issues.
They further sought a declaration that the show of power by the respondents on April 28, 2014, at the Aba office of the first applicant was illegal.
At the resumed hearing of the suit on Wednesday, counsel to the applicant, Enwelunta, explained to the court that all attempt to serve the court processes on the respondents proved abortive.
He, therefore, urged the court to grant an order for substituted service of the processes on them.
Justice Idris then granted the order as prayed, and adjourned the case to Feb. 6 for mention. (NAN)