Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has ordered the former National Vice Chairman Northeast Zone of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Com. Mustapha Salihu, to pay the sum of N55million as damages to former National Welfare Secretary of the party, Alh. Ibrahim Kabir Masari.
Equally, the court has ordered Com. Mustapha to formally apologize in writing to the former National Welfare Secretary and former Member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.
Com. Mustapha, who is currently seeking second tenure as the National Vice Chairman of the zone had during NWC's meeting on the 14th January, 2020, at the National Secretariat of party in Abuja, insulted the Secretary of the party who hails from Katsina state.
The former National Vice Chairman of the Northeast rained insults on Alh. Masari, where he referred to him as"a rogue, useless thieft, worthless bastard and an idiot" in the presence of other officials of the party.
He made the slanderous utterance against the Welfare Secretary when he (Alh Masari)had indicated interest to contribute on the issue of replacement of the party's National Secretary which was zone to the Northeast Zone
Aside calling the claimant the said names which travelled far and wide, Com. Mustapha even threatened to beat him up.
It was against this background that Alh. Masari, approached the court where he prayed it to take into consideration the slanderous utterence against his personality, and his social standing.
Likewise, Alh. Masari and claimant in suit number CV/1511/2020, urged the court to award damages, and that the award must be adequate to repair the injury done to his personality.
While establishing the fact that there was a slanderous utterance made by Com Mustapha and the defendant against him, the claimant assembled Two(2) witnesses who testfied in court without having their evidence discredited under cross-examimation.
Delivering its judgement, the court presided by Hon. Justice Y. Halilu, granted the reliefs sought and awarded the sum of N50, 000, 000.00 against the defendant as special damages.
"In the estimation of this court, I am also minded to award general damages against the defendant", Justice Halilu declared.
" It is pertinent to note that in slander cases, once the utterences are found to be slanderous of the claimant, damages follow and the damages to be awarded is general damages", he held.
He also awarded the sum of N5, 000, 000.00 against the defendant, and further ordered the defendant to apologize in writing to the claimant.
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