Mike Igini, the Akwa Ibom State, resident electoral commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has vowed to make David Imuse, the Edo State chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to pay for whatever he has acquired in life for the N5billion libelous suit instituted against him.

Igini dragged Imuse before the Edo State High Court over alleged libellous publications authored against him during the 2020 governorship election in the state and demanded N5 billion in damages.

Speaking in Benin on Monday, Igini expressed displeasure over the long period the case had dragged on, adding that, counsel to the 1st defendant (Imuse) was deliberately using antics to frustrate the case.

He said, “This is 2024, a case that was instituted in 2020, this is where we are. Every trick has been deployed to delay this case. But we made a very appreciable progress, given that we have finally closed our case. The 2nd defendant and the 3rd have also closed their case.

“The 1st defendant has been running away, and as you all know, for almost two years, he failed to file a reply to this matter, and even when he did so, he hid it from our own lawyer and waited until I was done and decided to bring it out.

“He made very frivolous, malicious allegations against me, which of course, we intended, ab initio, to destroy the reputation that I have built over the years.

“The allegations he made are all over the internet, which has become a common encyclopedia, even for pupils, and that information is readily there. That is why I have shown this unwavering determination that he must come to this court to prove those damaging allegations, which he has failed to do.”

Igini stated that the wheel of justice grinds gradually but would come to an end, nothing that he is not bothered by its slow pace.

He added, “Whatever period it will take this matter, Colonel Imuse must come and prove those allegations against me.

“I have stood on the part of the truth on account of doing the right thing for his fatherland with respect to elections. It is clear that a number of people are beneficiaries of our uprightness in the defence of democracy and the rule of law.”