Benue Former Commissioner Slams Gov Alia’s CPS With Lawsuit…Demands N1b Compensation

Benue State former Commissioner for Education,  Mr Dennis Ityavyar, has slammed Governor Hyacinth Alia’s Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo with a lawsuit, and he has demanded ₦1 billion as compensation.

Team@orientactualmags.com  learned that in the lawsuit in question, which the former commissioner filed at the State High Court, Makurdi through his lawyer, Clement Mue, he also joined the governor and the Attorney General of the state as second and fourth defendants.

 Ityavyar noted that on July 17, 2025, the CPS presided over a press briefing at the Benue State Government House, Makurdi, during which he made several false, malicious, and defamatory statements about him.

‘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 Ityavya 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’ the CPS had submitted.

Ityavyar has claimed that sequel to the false and malicious statements, he was inundated with a deluge of phone calls, messages and inquiries from family members, political associates, and professional colleagues both within and outside Benue State, many of who expressed deep shock, disappointment and disbelief, stating that the allegations are inconsistent with the person and character they have known for decades.

‘The false and malicious statements have gravely injured his reputation, caused him emotional distress and has exposed him to public ridicule, professional embarrassment and political misrepresentation.

The statements are entirely false, defamatory, made with malicious intent and calculated to damage his hard-earned reputation, professional standing and credibility among his peers, and the general public’ the former Commissioner’s lawyer added.

In the suit No. MHC/131/2025, Ityavyar is seeking a declaration that the defamatory statements made and published by the Defendant against the Plaintiff on the 17th day of July 2025, are false, malicious, and defamatory.

He is seeking an order directing Mr Kula to publish a full and unequivocal retraction of the said defamatory statements in at least two (2) national newspapers and on the official media platforms used for their initial dissemination.

The former commissioner is also seeking an order compelling Mr Kula to issue and publish a formal apology addressed to him in writing and the same manner as the defamatory publication.

He is also demanding general damages in the sum of ₦1,000,000,000 (One billion Naira) for defamation of character, reputational injury, and emotional distress and an order for Kula to pay the sum of N5,000,000.00 (Five Million Naira)as special damages for legal and professional fees incurred in retaining counsel, among other orders.

A date is yet to be fixed for the suit-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079,  08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you