A former Commissioner for Education in Benue State, Professor Dennis Ityavyar, has instituted a ₦1 billion defamation lawsuit against the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Benue State, Kula Tersoo, along with three other defendants, over alleged false and malicious statements that he claims have severely damaged his reputation.
The suit, filed on Tuesday at the State High Court, Makurdi, by Ityavyar’s counsel, Clement Mue, lists the Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, the Benue State Government, and the Attorney General of Benue State as the second, third, and fourth defendants respectively.
In his statement of claim, Professor Ityavyar alleged that on July 17, 2025, Mr. Tersoo, while addressing a press conference at the Benue State Government House, Makurdi, made a series of false, malicious, and defamatory remarks about him. The briefing, which was widely covered by print and online media, reportedly portrayed him in a damaging and negative light before the public.
According to the suit, Tersoo was quoted as saying:
“It is unfortunate that someone who presided over the rot in the education sector for eight years would now have the audacity to criticise a government that is focused on fixing the mess he left behind. Professor Ityavyar oversaw the collapse of the School of Nursing and Midwifery in Makurdi. He is linked to unaddressed scholarship fraud and illegal student levies. The recent outburst by Professor Ityavyar was a preemptive move to stir public sympathy ahead of potential accountability measures.”
Professor Ityavyar insists these statements are entirely false, made with malicious intent, and calculated to destroy his hard-earned reputation, professional credibility, and political standing. He maintains that during his tenure as Commissioner for Education, he served with integrity and that the allegations are inconsistent with his record of service.
He further stated that following the publication of these remarks, he received numerous phone calls, text messages, and inquiries from family members, political associates, and professional colleagues both within and outside Benue State, many of whom expressed shock, disappointment, and disbelief at the accusations.
According to him, the statements have caused:
- Grave injury to his reputation
- Emotional distress
- Public ridicule
- Professional embarrassment
- Political misrepresentation
In Suit No. MHC/131/2025, the former commissioner is seeking the following reliefs:
- A declaration that the statements made and published on July 17, 2025, were false, malicious, and defamatory.
- An order directing Mr. Tersoo to publish a full and unequivocal retraction of the statements in at least two national newspapers and on all official media platforms used for their initial dissemination.
- A formal written apology, published in the same manner and channels as the defamatory remarks.
- ₦1,000,000,000 (One Billion Naira) in general damages for defamation of character, reputational injury, and emotional distress.
- ₦5,000,000 (Five Million Naira) as special damages to cover legal and professional fees incurred in retaining counsel.
- Any other orders the court deems fit in the circumstances.
At the time of filing, a date had not yet been fixed for the hearing of the matter.
