The Kaduna State Government has opened a legal suit against a former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chidi Odinkalu.
Odinkalu, a human rights lawyer, had in February accused Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna of lying about the number of casualties and the timing of attacks on Kajuru Local Government Area of the state, Igbere TV reports.
El-Rufai at the time put the casualty figure at 66.But Odinkalu claimed his sources which included residents, traditional and religious rulers confirmed to him that casualties were about 11.
The government has now opened a suit against him dated March 18, 2019, at the Kaduna Chief Magistrate’s Court.
The government accused Odinkalu of inciting disturbance and furnishing false information which is punishable under the state’s penal codes.
The government also asked that a cause of criminal summons be issued against Odinkalu.
The court, in another application filed by the government, ordered the police on March 22 to investigate Odinkalu.
However, Odinkalu told newsmen that he had not received any summons, adding that he had made a statement to the police after he was invited.
