LIBEL: Sen. Sani files N5bn counter claim against Gov El-Rufai

Senator Shehu Sani has accused Kaduna State’s Governor Nasir El-Rufai of making a libelous broadcast against him and has filed a Counter Claim at the Kaduna State High Court against the governor.

The senator, who represents Kaduna Central at the Senate, in his counter claim is praying the court to mandate Governor El-Rufai to pay him the sum of N5 billion as damages for the alleged libelous broadcast.

El-Rufai had earlier in February dragged Sani to court demanding that the senator pay him N500 million for alleged defamatory statement contained in a publication.

However, on April 20, Sani approached the Kaduna State High Court with a Statement of Defence and Counter-Claim.

In the Statement of Defence and Counter-Claim by Sani, which was obtained by newsmen in Abuja on Monday, the senator is seeking among other things compensation for the alleged libelous broadcast, an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the plaintiff either by himself, agents, aides, privies or through any persons, from repeating the libelous broadcast.

According to Sani, the broadcast which was rendered in Hausa language, had done so much damage to his reputation, his political career and has caused disaffection between him and his constituents.

The Statement of Defence read in part, “Sometimes in November 2017, the plaintiff, speaking at a live broadcast, transmitted on radio, maliciously, unlawfully and without any justification whatsoever, uttered defamatory statements in Hausa language.

“The offensive publication has continuously reduced the counter-claimant’s reputation, his political and social standing and popularity, which had taken years of hard work, excellence, diligence, sincerity, service to the people, forthrightness and courage to build.

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“As a result of the malicious and offensive publication, the counter-claimant has suffered monumental humiliation and embarrassment and his reputation as a respectable Nigerian has been severely bruised and battered.

“The plaintiff knew and had every reason to know that the said broadcast unfairly and unjustly portrays the counter-claimant as a villain, madman of incurable insanity, among others.

“By reason of the foregoing, the counter-claimant has suffered humiliation, embarrassment, vilification, denigration, disparagement and agony, all of which are unquantifiable.”

 

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