Benue: Rep Terseer Ugbor files N1billion defamation suit against Gov Alia, others

Terseer Ugbor, the House of Representatives member representing Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency, has filed a N1 billion defamation lawsuit against the Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia.

The suit, marked MHC/422/2024, also names the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Tersoo Kula, and Isaac Uzaan, a media aide to the governor, as co-defendants. Ugbor claims the defendants made defamatory statements regarding his handling of relief materials for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Kwande/Ushongo.

Ugbor, in his statement of claim, outlined his efforts to secure palliatives for victims of herdsmen attacks in his constituency.

After requesting and receiving relief materials from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ugbor said he arranged for the items to be stored in a public warehouse while attending to national duties in the U.S.

He claims that upon his return, Governor Alia impounded the vehicle transporting the materials and, along with his aides, published defamatory posts on Facebook, accusing Ugbor of diverting the palliatives.

Ugbor seeks an order for the removal of the posts, a public apology, and N1 billion in damages. A hearing date has not yet been set.