A former Governor of Bayelsa State and current Nigeria Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Marlin Sylva, has won a case he filed against the Publisher of Point Blank News, Mr Jackson Ude, in a US District Court of Eastern Pennsylvania.

It was gathered that, the publisher of Point blank Newspaper had falsely reported that Wide net international investigations into the activities of politically exposed persons (PEPs) in Nigeria and other flagged African countries have found a curious lodgement of $2,039,975 (Two million and thirty-nine thousand, nine hundred and seventy-five US dollars) into one of the accounts of Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Marlin Sylva.

In another article, Mr Jackson also accused the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva of paying the sum of Ten Thousand United States Dollars bribe to each member of the National Assembly by to influence them to break the 13 years legislative jinx of passing the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB)

The US District Court of Eastern Pennsylvania while delivering his judgment against Mr. Jackson Ude ordered that Mr. Jackson Ude to take down, delete, and destroy all articles and publications that allege any criminal or other misconduct by Chief Sylva appearing on the Point Blank News website and from Ude’s social media accounts, especially those publications in issue in this case.

Part of the Judgment read; “Publisher Jackson Ude, represents and warrants that his employer, Point Blank News, will cooperate with him and work with him for the good faith and amicable resolution of this matter.”

“Ude further represents and warrants that he does not own Point Blank News and that Point Blank News is his employer.”

“Mr Ude will reasonably and in good faith take down, delete, and destroy all articles and publications that allege any criminal or other misconduct by Sylva appearing on the Point Blank News website and from Ude’s social media accounts, especially those publications in issue in this case”

“Thereafter, if Sylva reasonably discovers any article or publication violative of this Agreement still existing, Sylva will inform Ude first and give Ude reasonable notice (no longer than one week absent extraordinary circumstances) to delete, before such may be deemed a breach”

“Ude will not (directly or indirectly) engage in any act either to harass or spread false information against Sylva”

“Ude will not (directly or indirectly) publish any false or defamatory information about Sylva, with liquidated damages of $25,000 per any such publication and attorneys’ fees to the winner of any litigation therefrom. In such a litigation, the Plaintiff is a winner if he wins, and the Defendant is a winner if the Plaintiff losses or if the case is dismissed (unless the case is dismissed on stipulation or consent of both parties)”

“Within (7) days from the Effective Date, Sylva and Ude will execute the necessary stipulation to dismiss the Lawsuit, in the form of Annex A hereto, and will file the Agreement and Annexes with the Court.”

“Within (7) days from the Effective Date, Ude will send Sylva (through the parties’ attorneys), and publish only once on the Point Blank News website (which shall be remain viewable from the homepage for seven days), a hand-signed and dated certification, in the form of Annex B hereto”

“No amount of money will exchange hands between the Parties as part of this resolution and Agreement.” (Source: Naijalivetv)

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