A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Gudu, Abuja, on Wednesday, May 3, slammed a N10,000 fine on the Kaduna state governor Nasir El-Rufai.
Justice Abubakar Talba slammed the fine against El-Rufai and in favour of a former national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Olisa Metuh.
At the hearing today, El-Rufai for the fourth time in a row failed to produce his witness, in order to enable him substantiate a defamation suit against the former PDP spokesperson.
El-Rufai has for four consecutive adjourned dates – since June 2016 – failed to produce his witness in the matter before the court.
However, when the case was called up today, May 3, counsel to the governor Rabi Adamu told the court that witness was not available.
Justice Abubakar Talba fined El-Rufai in favour of a former national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Olisa Metuh
Rabi prayed the court to grant his team another adjourned date to enable them produce the witness.
But in his reaction, Metuh’s anger, who was visibly angered by Rabi’s prayer said the failure to produce a witness for four consecutive adjourned dates, it is evident that the governor has no case against Metuh.
Nwosu describing the development as an abuse of court process added that the plaintiff cannot continue to drag on his client for no just cause.
He said such is not acceptable and should not be allowed by the court.
The counsel added that while the plaintiff is the governor of Kaduna state, his client has since left office as the PDP spokesman and is pursuing the case with his personal resources.
Nwosu further prayed the court to compel the plaintiff to produce his witness or immediately close his case for lack of substance.
Metuh’s lawyer also asked the court to award a cost of N150,000 in favour of his client.
However, while giving his ruling, Justice Talba frowned at the failure of the plaintiff to produce his witness in court.
He recalled that the case was adjourned on June 22, 2016, November 23, 2016, February 23, 2017 and now May 3, 2017.
The ruled that Governor El-Rufai pay N10, 000 to the defendants.
He further adjourned the case to Wednesday, July 5, for continuation of hearing.
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