Court Dismisses Modu Sheriff Defamatory Suits Against Borno State Govt

A federal high court sitting in Abuja on Thursday dismissed two
defamation suits filed by national chairman of the PDP, Ali Modu
Sheriff who claimed his character was defamed by publications
signed by Borno State Attorney General and Commissioner for
Justice, Barister Kaka Shehu Lawan.

Justice Z D Senchi, who delivered the judgment, also awarded
cost against Sheriff.

Sheriff had claimed 10 billion naira damages for each of the two
suits he filed as compensation for alleged defamation of his
character.

Lawan had in 2016 attended a legal conference in Port Harcourt
during which he made presentation with respect to genesis of the
Boko Haram insurgency, alleging that as then Governor of Borno
State, certain actions of Ali Modu Sheriff played a key role in
giving birth to the crisis.

Following media reports on Lawan’s presentation, Sheriff
challenged the lawyer to publish evidence in support of his
claims.

Lawan then published advertorials in two Newspapers, Daily Trust
and Punch, listing “40 facts” with dated chronicles of the Boko
Haram crisis which point to how alleged mishandling of events by
Sheriff as Governor of Borno State between 2003 and 2011 gave birth
to ongoing violence perpetuated by Boko Haram insurgents resulting
in endless killings.

At resumed hearing at the high court number 19 in Jabi where a
suit number FCT/HC/CV/2494/16 between Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff and
Kaka Shehu Lawan and Media Trust Ltd. and a suit number
FCT/HC/CV/2495/16 between Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff and Kaka Shehu
Lawan, Punch Newspapers & 3 others were filed by Sheriff since
2016, defence counsels to the attorney general, Femi Falana, SAN,
leading A.A Alfa Esq and Samuel Ogala raised a preliminary
objection on the competence of the two suits.

After extensive arguments, the cases were adjourned for
ruling.

In Thursday’s ruling delivered, the court upheld the objection
and accordingly struck out the two cases with cost of 100,000.00
against Sheriff.

A federal high court sitting in Abuja on Thursday dismissed two
defamation suits filed by national chairman of the PDP, Ali Modu
Sheriff who claimed his character was defamed by publications
signed by Borno State Attorney General and Commissioner for
Justice, Barister Kaka Shehu Lawan.

Justice Z D Senchi, who delivered the judgment, also awarded
cost against Sheriff.

Sheriff had claimed 10 billion naira damages for each of the two
suits he filed as compensation for alleged defamation of his
character.

Lawan had in 2016 attended a legal conference in Port Harcourt
during which he made presentation with respect to genesis of the
Boko Haram insurgency, alleging that as then Governor of Borno
State, certain actions of Ali Modu Sheriff played a key role in
giving birth to the crisis.

Following media reports on Lawan’s presentation, Sheriff
challenged the lawyer to publish evidence in support of his
claims.

Lawan then published advertorials in two Newspapers, Daily Trust
and Punch, listing “40 facts” with dated chronicles of the Boko
Haram crisis which point to how alleged mishandling of events by
Sheriff as Governor of Borno State between 2003 and 2011 gave birth
to ongoing violence perpetuated by Boko Haram insurgents resulting
in endless killings.

At resumed hearing at the high court number 19 in Jabi where a
suit number FCT/HC/CV/2494/16 between Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff and
Kaka Shehu Lawan and Media Trust Ltd. and a suit number
FCT/HC/CV/2495/16 between Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff and Kaka Shehu
Lawan, Punch Newspapers & 3 others were filed by Sheriff since
2016, defence counsels to the attorney general, Femi Falana, SAN,
leading A.A Alfa Esq and Samuel Ogala raised a preliminary
objection on the competence of the two suits.

After extensive arguments, the cases were adjourned for
ruling.

In Thursday’s ruling delivered, the court upheld the objection
and accordingly struck out the two cases with cost of 100,000.00
against Sheriff.