A Kano State High Court has ordered Governor Abdullahi Ganduje to pay publisher of Daily Nigerian Jaafar Jaafar N800,000.
Ganduje had dragged Mr Jaafar and the publication to court claiming damages for defamation. However, he made a U-turn on Tuesday and asked to discontinue the litigation without stating any cogent reason.
Daily Nigerian had circulated a video, showing Ganduje purportedly taking kickback from a contractor and stuffing the money handed to him into his pocket.
Following Ganduje’s surprise move in court, counsel for Daily Nigerian Muhammad Dan’Azumi told the court to fine the governor for wasting his client’s precious time. He also said the governor had attempted to damage his client’s reputation by claiming that it published defamatory items.
Jaafar’s counsel U. U. Eteng made similar request.
Justice S. B. Namalam granted Ganduje’s discontinuance application and ordered him to pay cost in the sum of N400,000 each to the two defendants.
