15th January, 2018
Journalist and public relations consultant, Lekan Fatodu has secured an order of court for substituted service of a defamation lawsuit against Sowore Omoyele, publisher of SaharaReporters.
In a court document with suit no: ID/ADR/492/2017 a High Court of Lagos State granted an order that the lawsuit against Sowore and two other defendants should be pasted “on the entrance to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Defendants being their last known address situated and known as 46B Adekunle Fajuyi way, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos state”.
Counsel to the claimant, NC Onyejaka had moved in support of the said motion ex-parte dated 25th day of October, 2017 for substituted service of the originating processes on 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants and without any opposition.
Giving the order, Justice A.O. Opesanwo ruled that photographic evidence of posting shall be obtained and attached to an affidavit in proof of service.
Fatodu stated that application for the court order became necessary after several failed attempts to serve Sowore at 46B Adekunle Fajuyi way, GRA Ikeja, Lagos State, the address the Saharareporters founder provided to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as his business address, as the gateman at the property claimed the publisher had moved out of the building.