Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Former Acting Head of Service, Abia State, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Lady Joy Maduka, who was recently retired by Gov. Alex Otti, has slammed N100 million suit against two popularFacebook users, Nwokeukwu Mascot Nnamdi, and Bethel Agbara, for alleged false publication.
The Claimant sued the Defendants for N100 million damages over the alleged libelous publication on their Facebook walls.
Abia Head of Service, Mrs Queen Obioma, had last week, directed the former Perm Sec, to proceed on “compulsory retirement with immediate effect.”
She did not give reasons for the action but simply said it was according to a directive by the Governor.
The HoS, in the circular, also directed the former Perm Sec, to hand over all Government properties in her custody to the most senior Director in the Ministry
Meanwhile, Lady Maduka in the suit marked HU/23/2024, filed before Abia State High Court on June 21, 2024, claimed that “the malicious and libelous publication” by the Defendants, had exposed her to “public scandal, odium and ridicule.”
The retired Perm Sec, through her lawyer, Nwabueze Chukwueke of NCN & Partners Law firm, further claimed that the alleged “libelous publication, has lowered and diminished the estimation of the Claimant in the eyes of right thinking members of the society, including but not limited to her friends, business associates and family members.”
The ex-HoS, also sought an order of the court compelling the Defendants to tender unreserved apology to the Claimant in two national newspapers.
A copy of the suit sighted by Ikengaonline read in part: “The 1st Defendant in his Facebook wall falsely published and accused the Claimant of diversion and embezzlement of N20 million and N13 million, respectively.”
“The 1st Defendant maliciously defamed the Claimant when he carelessly and recklessly published that one of the primary allegations against the retired Perm Sec involves the diversion of N20 million intended for workers; and looting N13 million from the Ministry of Environment account shortly after her promotion to Permanent Secretary,” it further read.
