'LIBELOUS STORY'

Okari in hiding as NMG ordered to pull down Covid-19 expose

Lawyers say they filed affidavits late as they had challenges locating journalist

In Summary

• On August 16 NTV aired an investigative story on how several companies benefited from the Covid-19 donations.

• Story that was also uploaded on NTV’s Youtube channel has so far garnered over 700,000 views. 

Dennis Okari.
COVID EXPOSE: Dennis Okari.
Image: Courtesy

Nation TV investigative journalist Dennis Okari is in hiding over the Covid-19 Millionaires expose that was aired last month, a court was told.

Through the Nation Media Group lawyers, the court heard that Okari was in hiding and they could not reach him.

In the case, medical supplies firm Megascope Ltd moved to court suing NMG and Dennis Okari for allegedly linking it to the Kemsa scandal thereby maligning the firm.

 
 

In a virtual hearing, NMG lawyer Kirangu Kimani apologised to . court for late filing saying they had a challenge locating Okari to sign the affidavits. 

Lawyer Njoroge Regeru for Megascope had asked the court not to admit the affidavits by Okari and NMG alleging it to be a deliberate delay of the hearing.

However, Justice Joseph Sergon allowed them on Tuesday evening. 

Meanwhile, the court has ordered Nation to pull down the story from their social media platforms pending the hearing of a libel case against the company.

Sergon on Wednesday granted the order requested by Megascope.

Megascope said the story that was also uploaded on NTV’s Youtube channel has so far garnered over 700,000 views.

Regeru had asked Sergon to grant them the order arguing that the story continues to damage his client’s reputation.

 
 

NMG lawyer Kiragu Kimani opposed the application, saying an earlier order not to carry any more stories on Megascope in relation to the scandal was sufficient.

The case will be mentioned on October 22.

 

Edited by R.Wamochie 

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