El-Rufai vows to challenge court order to pay Maikori N40m

The Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir E-Rufai, has vowed to challenge a decision by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja and presided over by Justice John Tsoho, ordering him to pay the sum of N40 million to the president of Chocolate City Group, Audu Maikori, as compensation for his illegal arrest and detention.

Justice Tsoho had also ordered the respondents to “pay jointly and severally, as general damages, the sum of N10 million only for injury to character, self-reputation, business reputation, esteem, proper feeling of pride of the applicant, his staff, management and the applicant’s other international business concerns”.

He further awarded N1,430 as cost of the suit, as well as, 10% interest per annum on damages until total and final liquidation of same.

Read also: Maikori slams El-Rufai with N10bn lawsuit for unlawful arrest, detention

Reacting to the judgement in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Samuel Aruwan, El-Rufai said Kaduna State was a “complainant in a criminal matter involving Audu Maikori.”

“The judgment will not stop this criminal trial. There is no malicious prosecution going on,” the governor said, adding that “the government can file complaints, but it is the business of the police to make arrests following the normal procedures.”

Recall that after his incaceration on two occasions which took place between February 17 and 18, 2017 and March 10 and 13, 2017, Maikori filed a fundamental human rights enforcement suit in the month of May seeking legal redress for his harassment by El-Rufai .

 

 

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