Justice C.K Dappa Addo of the Rivers State High Court has fixed 27 July 2020 to deliver judgement in the suit between Rivers State FA boss Chris Green and veteran sports journalist China Acheru.

Green who also doubles as an adviser to the Rivers state governor on Real Madrid Academy sued Acheru for defamation of character after the respected journalist published an article alleging his life at risk from the FA boss.

The piece title: “7 Minutes with China: Barrister Chris Green still wants me dead?” published on 15 June 2019 on nigerianfootballer.com, detailed historical altercations between the pair and revealed bombshell threatening messages allegedly directed at Acheru by Green.

Green responded with lawsuit number PHC/2198/2019 filled at the Rivers State High Court on 10 July 2019, to clear his name.

During the fourth court session on Tuesday, 14 July, lead counsel to the defendant O. C Higher-King told the court that his client (China Acheru) has not been served a writ of summons as provided by law and that the signature in the originating process isn’t that of his client.

Responding for the appellant, O.A Alake claimed that the defendant has been duly served the writ of summons adding that they have done their bit to satisfy the law.

Alake also rejected the defendant’s claims on the first day of the hearing in February that his signature on the writ of summons before the court was a forgery. Alake argued that the signature of receipt on the writ of summons and that provided by the defendant to the court were almost similar save for one appearing to be longer than the other.

After listening to the arguments of both counsels the trial Judge Justice C.K Dappa Addo, adjourned the matter to July 27, 2020 for ruling.

Speaking with journalists after the court proceedings, Counsel to the Defendant O.C Higher King said their position is fundamental as the law has procedures of serving originating processes.

He added that the ruling on 27 July will determine the next course of action for his client.

“Right now the matter has been adjoined for ruling; the ruling now means that the life span of the matter will be determined on the next date, if the court agrees with us that our client wasn’t properly served that means the matter will be struck out, but if the court refuses and says that we were properly served that means the matter can continue and the other options we have available to both parties is to go on appeal, either way the ruling will be heard on July 27, 2020.”