An FCT High Court on Wednesday last week granted an interim order restraining the publisher of a US based online medium, Pointblank News, Jackson Ude from further publication of defamatory materials against a Nigerian businessman, Abubakar Ismaila Isa.
Other plaintiff in the suit No: CV/1823/20 is an Abuja based indigenous construction company, Bulet International Nig. Limited, owned by former President of Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria, NPAN.
Apart from Mr Ude, joined in the suit as defendant was Nigerian Young Professionals Forum, NYPF.
Justice Yusuf Halilu, after listening to counsel to plaintiffs, Chief Michael Andoakaa, SAN, granted the restraining order.
Mr Halilu said: ”An interim order of the honourable court restraining the defendants (Jackson Ude, Publisher of PointBlank News and Nigerian Young Professionals Forum) from further publication of any defamatory statements against the claimants (Abubakar Ismaila Isa and Bulet International Nigeria Ltd.) pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice in this suit, is hereby granted.”
The court further granted the application to serve the defendants the writ of summons and all other court processes by substituted service through the electronic mail of Mr Ude at jackson@pointblanknews.com and tag him on his Facebook and Twitter social media accounts named; Jackson Ude and @jacksonpbn respectively.
It also ordered pasting of the processes on a conspicuous space at No. 47, Rumford Street, Sun City Estate, Galadimawa, Abuja, being the 1st defendant’s known address within the jurisdiction.
The court adjourned the suit to July 9, 2020 for hearing.
