The representative of Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency, Hon. Terseer Ugbor, on Friday, filed a N1 billion defamation suit against the Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, before a Benue State High Court in Makurdi.
The suit, marked MHC/422/2024, also includes the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Tersoo Kula, and Isaac Uzaan, identified as a media aide to the governor.
Hon. Ugbor is seeking a court order directing Governor Alia, Kula, and Uzaan to remove all defamatory posts and publications made against him on their Facebook pages. He also demands a retraction of these publications, accompanied by a public apology to be published in at least five national newspapers and shared on Facebook and other social media platforms.
In addition, the lawmaker is requesting an order of perpetual injunction to restrain the defendants, their agents, or any affiliates from further defaming him.
In his statement of claim, Ugbor described himself as a responsible representative dedicated to the welfare of his constituents. He stated that on October 9 and 16, 2023, he had written to the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), requesting palliatives to support victims of herdsmen attacks in Moon, Yaav, Kumakwagh, and Mbadura Council Wards of Kwande Local Government Area in Benue State.
Due to the worsening humanitarian crisis and lack of response from NEMA, Ugbor wrote another letter to the agency on May 8, 2024, requesting urgent intervention for victims in several wards of Kwande Local Government. Eventually, NEMA approved and released the relief materials, and Ugbor acknowledged receipt through a letter on the same day.
These letters have been submitted as evidence in the suit filed by his counsel, Dr. Emmanuel Agbakor.
Ugbor explained that on September 11, 2024, while attending to national matters in the United States, he arranged for the relief materials to be transported from NEMA’s warehouse in Jos to Makurdi. The items were stored at a public warehouse for safekeeping, pending his return for distribution to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in his constituency.
The palliatives were kept at Culture Warehouse, located at 6E Wantor Kwange Street, Makurdi, with receipts attached as proof of payment for the storage.
However, Ugbor alleged that Governor Alia seized the vehicle transporting the relief materials. When he raised concerns, Isaac Uzaan posted a defamatory publication on Facebook titled “RE: ALIA VOWS TO MAKE LIFE UNBEARABLE FOR IDPs IN KWANDE.”
Additionally, on September 18, Mr. Kula published a press statement on his Facebook page, titled “Gov. ALIA HANDS OVER TRUCK OF DIVERTED RELIEF MATERIALS TO EFCC/ICPC,” where he allegedly defamed Ugbor on behalf of the governor.
Furthermore, Ugbor claimed that Governor Alia, on September 18, 2024, made defamatory statements in a video shared on Fr. Alia TV Network. The video, which went viral on social media, accused Ugbor of diverting palliatives meant for IDPs in Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency, referring to him as a “dishonourable member.”
As part of his lawsuit, Ugbor is seeking an order from the court directing Governor Alia, Kula, and Uzaan to pay him N1 billion in damages for defamation of his character and reputation, among other reliefs.
No date has been set for the hearing of the suit.
