Jibrin sues lawyers for defamation over alleged £1.5m UK account

The erstwhile chairman of the Committee on Appropriation in the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, has dragged two lawyers to High Court of the Federal Capital Territory over claims that the lawmaker has 1.5million pounds in his account in the United Kingdom.

Jibrin had previously denied the allegations, saying it was the handiwork of Speaker Yakubu Dogara and his hatchet men.

In the write of summon served on the defendants, Messers Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere and Ifeanyi Okonkwo, the lawmaker said, “The statements in newspaper publications titled ‘Jibrin owns E1.558m in UK bank, NYCN alleges’ implicitly and/or expressly procured, authorized, and or caused to be published by the defendants against the plaintiff in page 11 of the PUNCH Newspaper of Monday the 19th day of September 2016 Vol.40 No.21,270 are false, malicious, without legal justification, and are defamatory/libellous of the reputation and character of the plaintiff to the general public.”

Abdulmumuni Jibrin therefore sought the following orders: “An order compelling the defendants to publish in five national dailies an unconditional, detailed apology, and full page retraction of, the statements in newspaper publications titled “Jibrin owns E1.558m in UK bank, NYCN alleges” implicitly and/or expressly procured, authorized, and or caused to be published by the Defendants against the Plaintiff in page 11 of the PUNCH Newspaper of Monday the 19th day of September 2016 Vol.40 No.21,270 .

“An order compelling the defendants, jointly and/or severally, to pay the plaintiff the sum of N1,000,000,000 (One Billion Naira) as general damages for the defendants defamation/libel of the plaintiff under the circumstances of this suit.

“An order compelling the defendants, jointly and/or severally, to pay the plaintiff the sum of N1,000,000,000 (One Billion Naira) only to the plaintiff, as exemplary and/or aggravated damages under the circumstances of this Suit.

“An order compelling the defendants, jointly and/or severally, to pay the plaintiff post judgment interest on prayers 3 and 4 above at 10% from the day judgment is delivered to the date the judgment sums are fully and finally paid by the defendants.