Mike Igini, a former resident electoral commissioner for Akwa Ibom State, has called on Colonel David Imuse (rtd.), the former chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, to substantiate his accusations in court.
News About Nigeria reports that Igini accuses Imuse of using deceptive tactics to delay the ongoing libel lawsuit filed in 2020.
The lawsuit, filed in the Edo State High Court, seeks N5 billion in damages for allegedly defamatory articles published during the 2020 Edo governorship election.
In that year, Imuse accused Governor Godwin Obaseki of conspiring with Igini to rig the September 19 election.
These allegations were broadcast on major media outlets, including Channels Television, AIT, Arise Television, and TVC.
Speaking in Benin on Monday, Igini expressed frustration over the prolonged proceedings of the case, alleging that Imuse’s lawyer is deliberately stalling.
“This is 2024, a case that was instituted in 2020, and this is where we are. Every trick has been deployed to delay this case. But we made appreciable progress, given that we have finally closed our case. The 2nd and 3rd defendants have also closed their cases,” Igini stated.
He further claimed that Imuse has been evading the case.
“The 1st defendant has been running away, and for almost two years, he failed to file a reply to this matter. Even when he did, he hid it from our lawyer until I was done and decided to bring it out,” Igini said.
He said that Imuse’s allegations were malicious and intended to damage his reputation, which has been built over years of public service.
“The allegations he made are all over the internet, which has become a common encyclopedia, even for pupils, and that information is readily there. That is why I have shown this unwavering determination that he must come to this court to prove those damaging allegations, which he has failed to do.”
Despite the delays, Igini remains confident in his pursuit of justice.
“Whatever period it will take this matter, Colonel Imuse must come and prove those allegations against me. I have stood on the path of truth, doing the right thing for our fatherland with respect to elections. It is clear that a number of people are beneficiaries of our uprightness in the defense of democracy and the rule of law,” Igini said.
