TheCable

Dan Akpovwa, publisher of The Abuja Inquirer has maintained that the publication did not malign Kingsley Kuku, former adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on amnesty programme.

Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), may testify in a libel case instituted by Kuku.

The newspaper described the suit by Kuku as frivolous, saying that it was aimed at intimidating media.

Akpovwa said this on Tuesday at the Abuja high court when hearing resumed in the case before Jude Okeke.

Kuku’s tenure as head of the amnesty programme had come under investigation by the EFCC.

In 2015, he was invited by the anti-graft agency for questioning, but he did not honour the invitation.

His lawyers then wrote to the EFCC that he was in the US for medical reasons, and that he would honour their invitation by September 30, 2016, but he has since not showed up.

Led in evidence by Bassey Offiong, lead counsel of The Abuja Inquirer,  Akpovwa said his newspaper was not guilty of libel.

“The words complained of by the plaintiff were neither libelous nor slanderous, but well considered and made in the public interest,” he said under oath.

Under cross examination by C Okorie, Kuku’s lawyer, Akpovwa insisted that the publication of the story was driven by pure public interest and not for financial gains, saying the fact that Kuku had not returned to Nigeria to answer the EFCC invitation buttressed the story.

He urged the court to dismiss the suit “with costs for being frivolous, vexatious” and an abuse of court process.

He also asked for N5m in “general damages”.

The case was adjourned to March 14 when Magu is expected to testify for the defence.