Abba Ali, chairman of the Tricycle and Motorcycle Association of Nigeria, Karu LGA chapter, has sued three members for defamation.

Mr Ali, aka Dan Borno, filed the case on Thursday before the Upper Area Court, Mararaba Gurku, against Salisu Muktar, Maiwada Sidi and Abdullahi Gana.

According to the complaint dated July 24, Mr Ali averred that the defendants conspired and maliciously wrote and signed a petition addressed to the chairman of Karu LGA against him. In the petition, he alleged that the defendants claimed that he diverted N107 million belonging to the association to his personal use.

The complainant averred that the allegation was totally false and was made with intent to injure his reputation and expose him to public odium and hatred. He averred that on June 29, he wrote a letter to the chairman of Karu LGA refuting and denying the allegation as malicious and false.

He stated that upon investigation, four out of the seven initial signatories to the petition distanced themselves from it and wrote a letter withdrawing the petition. 

Mr Ali added that on July 7, through his counsel, Abubakar Usman, the defendants were served a letter demanding withdrawal of the petition within one week, but they failed and refused to comply. He said the refusal confirmed the defendants’ malicious intent, hence the action.

The complainant stated that the defendants’ acts constitute the offences of Criminal Conspiracy and Criminal Defamation, contrary to Sections 96 and 392 of the Penal Code Law, respectively. His counsel told the court that all efforts to serve the third defendant failed. He urged that the court serve the third defendant with a criminal summons and a warrant of arrest.

Responding to the allegations, the two defendants present in court pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The first defendant’s counsel, C. J. Abin, and the second defendant’s counsel, Shide Solomon, prayed the court to grant bail to their clients.

The judge, Muhammad Yakubu, granted the application and ordered the immediate arrest of the third defendant. Mr Yakubu also admitted the defendants to bail of N500,000 each with one surety each in like sum. The magistrate ordered the sureties to deposit their passport photos and ID cards.

He held that if the defendants failed to meet the conditions, they should be remanded in the Keffi Correctional Service until the next adjourned date.

The judge adjourned the matter until November 24 for hearing.

(NAN)