The Vice Chancellor of the University of Mkar, Benue State, Prof. Zacharys Anger Gundu, has urged the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to dismiss or strike out a defamation suit instituted against him by the Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule.
Prof. Gundu made the request through a notice of preliminary objection filed before the court by his legal team, led by senior advocate, Sebastian Hon (SAN).
In the objection, the Vice Chancellor challenged the competence of the suit, arguing that it failed to meet the legal requirements necessary for the court to assume jurisdiction. He contended that the action was frivolous, lacking in merit, and amounted to an abuse of the judicial process.
According to the defence, the claims presented by the plaintiff do not disclose a reasonable cause of action capable of sustaining a defamation claim. The lawyers further maintained that the court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the matter in its current form.
Prof. Gundu therefore prayed the court to decline jurisdiction and terminate the proceedings at the preliminary stage, insisting that allowing the suit to continue would amount to a waste of judicial time.
The court is expected to fix a date to hear the preliminary objection before taking any further steps in the substantive suit.
