The court has directed the case filed by former Cabinet Secretary Richard Echesa against Seth Panyako to be heard on January 22, 2026.
According to reports, Echesa is seeking injunctive orders over alleged defamatory statements made against him.
He argues that the statements published by the defendants were presented as facts rather than opinion and were calculated to portray him as a murderer, arsonist, violent criminal, and a threat to public safety.
He also maintained that the allegations are defamatory as they impute the commission of serious criminal offences and have exposed him to hatred, ridicule, contempt, and public odium.
The former CS further denies all allegations, describing them as false, malicious, reckless, and without any factual or legal basis.
According to him, he has never led, commanded, or participated in any violent group or criminal activity, nor has he ever engaged in arson, homicide, or any unlawful conduct as alleged as well as no criminal charges have been referred against him.
He therefore seeks the court to declare the statements defamatory, issue a permanent injunction restraining further publication, compel an unqualified retraction and unconditional apology to be published on a full page of a daily newspaper.
