High Court Fix Judgement, As China Tackles Green Again in Rivers

Proceedings at Court 15, Defense Counsel Higher King opening his defense against the claimant. 

The Rivers State High Court premises was far from its usual bustling feeling,  but same cannot be said of  Court 15 where veteran sports journalist China Acheru was set for a showdown with the Rivers State Football Association Chairman and the SA to the Governor on Real Madrid Academy, Christopher Green; there were pockets of isolated tension quarantined in the corners of the courtroom, as both parties were set for a fourth hearing on the matter of defamation of character.

For starters,  the June 15, 2019 publication of a series titled, “7 Minutes with China: Barrister Chris Green still wants me dead?” by the defendant (China Acheru) in a website nigerianfootballer.com x-rayed a lot about the Real Madrid Academy Boss which prompted him to file a lawsuit for defamation of character on July 10, 2019 at the Rivers State High Court with suit number PHC/2198/2019.

However it’s being a ding dong affair since the first hearing of the lawsuit on February 11, 2020, and the fourth hearing of the case on July 14, 2020 wasn’t any different.

Déjà vu?

Court proceedings in Court 15 ably manned by Hon Justice C. K. Dappa Addo, began around 10:23am on July 14, 2020.

The claimant, Christopher Green was represented by lead counsel O.A Alake, while Mr. China Acheru who is the defendant was represented by popular human rights lawyer O. C Higher-King.

Lead counsel to the defendant Barr.  Higher-King opened his defense in the case by drawing the attention of the honourable judge to the fact that his client (China Acheru) has not been served a writ of summons as provided by the law, and the signature in the originating process isn’t that of his client.

Claimant, Barr. Christopher Green

Lead counsel to the claimant O.A Alake, in defense of his case responded by arguing that the defendant have been duly served the writ of summons, claiming that they have done their bit to satisfy the law. In a sarcastic response to the defendant’s counsel, O.A argued that the signature of receipt on the writ of summons and that provided by the defendant during the first hearing were almost similar, only that one signature seem to be longer than the other.

After listening to the arguments of both counsels the trial Judge Justice C.K Dappa Addo, adjourned the matter to July 27, 2020 for ruling.

In an interview with journalists, Counsel to the Defendant O.C Higher King, said it is very fundamental as the law has process of serving originating processes.

Defendant, China Acheru

“Right now the matter has been adjoined for ruling; the ruling now means that the life span of the matter will be determined on the next date, if the court agrees with us that our client wasn’t properly served that means the matter will be struck out, but if the court refuses and says that we were properly served that means the matter can continue and the other options we have available to both parties is to go on appeal, either way the ruling will be heard on July 27, 2020.”

Amidst the cold war and thick uncertainties that surrounds this case, both parties are key stakeholders in the sports fraternity in Rivers State, while Chris Green is the SA to Governor on Real Madrid Academy and State FA Chairman, China Acheru is a leading sports journalist and League Management Company (LMC) match delegate.

How well will the ongoing court saga benefit Rivers State sports?