Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC) wishes to update its members, volunteers, followers, local and international development partners who are interested and have been following this matter on the outcome of the case on defamation of characters of both YEAC and Fyneface over alleged theft of “Presidential Artisanal Crude Oil Refining Development Initiative -(PACORDI)” in Suit N0. PHC/1057/CS/2021 on Friday, April 29 and May 10, 2022 respectively.

In our last statement of brief to you dated April 8, 2022, we told you that the court adjoined the case to April 29, May 10 and May 11, 2022 after the ruling in favour of Fyneface Dumnamene and YEAC on April 8 that the Court has jurisdiction over the matter because it is a a Libel Suit.

The defendant had filed a motion, challenging the court and claiming that the court lacks jurisdiction over the matter which he said was a “trademark” matter and not libelous therefore the State High Court lacked jurisdiction over the case.

Thus, in the court on April 29 and May 10, nothing serious happened as the defendant had filed yet another motion for extension of time to enable him amend his processes which the court granted as supposed and expected in the case where fair-hearing is being religiously ensured.

On the other hand, the court also asked Fyneface Dumnamene and Advocacy Centre through their counsel whether they also intend to amend their process and the answer was “No” that the claimants’ fillings remain in order and valid as carefully and professionally filed.

Note that the adjoined dates of April 29, May 10 and May 11 were supposed to serve as “pretrial” and “hearing” dates. So, due to the defendant’s motion for time extension to amend his processes and the amendments itself which took place through the periods of April 29 and May 10, the May 11 date was cancelled and the case adjoined to June 3, 2022 for pretrial.

Thus, the pretrial in this case is now expected to take place on June 3 (if the defendant does not come to court with another position that would warrant the court to make adjustments again) while the main trial commences on the next adjoined date which will be communicated to you after June 3 court sitting.

As usual, Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface and Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC) appreciate you all for standing by them at this trying times that their foundation and legacy of the United States Government International Visitor’s Leadership Program (IVLP) which the Executive Director of YEAC participated in and was mandated by the American people and system to set up an NGO which is today “Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC) as a platform to implement ideas from the program to facilitate development in the Niger Delta is being challenged through false allegations and character defamation and which we would come out clean and those against us unjustly would be put to public shame as they wished us! America is Watching!

FYNEFACE DUMNAMENE FYNEFACE,
Executive Director, YEAC.
June 2, 2022