It was justice against tyranny and desperate attempt to muzzle the media in its constitutional mandate of furnishing the society with information as Justice C.U. Okoroafor of Abia state high court Umuahia on Monday rejected an interlocutory injunction by one Barr. Ken Ahia (SAN) restraining Abia Breaking News, online media platform from publishing what the senior lawyer called libelous publications against him.
Reacting to the ruling, the counsel and legal adviser to Abia Breaking News, Barr. Victor Etie expressed satisfaction with the decision of the court, saying it would have amounted to total defeat of the aim of fundamental human rights as it relates to freedom of speech and freedom of information if such injunction was granted.
He hailed the court for dismissing the application for interlocutory injunction seeking to restrain Abia Breaking News from publishing certain news materials, describing it as apt, erudite and judicious.
Recall that Abia Breaking News through its legal team led by the legal adviser Barr. Victor Etie had urged the court not to grant such application by Barr. Ahia (SAN) as it will amount to passing judgement. The popular media platform also urged the court to dismiss, reject and strike out the application as it is incompetent and lacks merit.
Welcoming the ruling, the senior political editor Abia Breaking News, Mr. Alex Enemanna described the ruling as the triumph of good over evil, adding that several attempts by the high and mighty in the society to gag the media has always been met with brick walls.
