(IJC/IFEX) – On 19 July 1999, the embattled speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Ibrahim Salisu Buhari, filed a N500 million (US$5 million) libel suit at the Ikeja High court through his counsel, Chief Frederick Rotimi Alalade (FRA) Williams (SAN). The suit was filed against Independent Communications Network Limited (ICNL), publishers of “The News” […]
(IJC/IFEX) – On 19 July 1999, the embattled speaker of the House of
Representatives, Alhaji Ibrahim Salisu Buhari, filed a N500 million (US$5
million) libel suit at the Ikeja High court through his counsel, Chief
Frederick Rotimi Alalade (FRA) Williams (SAN). The suit was filed against
Independent Communications Network Limited (ICNL), publishers of “The News”
magazine, over allegations of impropriety levelled against Alhaji Buhari in
the 19 July edition of “The News”, titled “The Face of a Liar”.
On the same day, Chief Williams filed another suit against the magazine on
behalf of three companies, Scanflow Security and Printing Limited, Utility
Software Limited and Mocrotec Computers Limited, owned by Alhaji Buhari,
claiming another N500 million (US$5 million) from the media house for
alleged libel. The companies claimed that they had suffered damages in the
course of their business as a result of the magazine’s story that alleged
that the companies were not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission
(CAC) in Abuja.
In a swift response, Femi Falana, counsel to “The News” magazine, wrote
Chief Williams expressing surprise that no statement of claim accompanied
the writ of summons. Falana wrote: “We are flabbergasted to note that the
said writ of summons was not accompanied with a statement of claim in spite
of the urgency with which the matter should be pursued in the national
interest. We are, therefore, compelled to request you to file without any
further delay your client’s statement of claim to enable us to file our
statement of defense and then move the trial court to attend to the
substantive case expeditiously.” Chief Williams has still not responded to
the request.
In a related development, a member of the National Assembly, senator Tokunbo
Afikuyomi of the Alliance for Democracy, from Lagos Central Senatorial
District, filed an originating summons on 19 July seeking an order of
mandamus to compel the Police Inspector General (IG) and the Attorney
General of the federation to institute criminal proceedings against Alhaji
Buhari for alleged forgery and perjury. (Ed note: a mandamus is a judicial
writ issued as a command to an inferior court, or ordering a person to
perform a public or statutory duty).
Afikuyomi’s suit was filed at the Federal High court, Lagos. The court is
asked to make two declarative reliefs and to issue an order compelling the
two government functionaries to arrest, investigate and prosecute the said
Alhaji Buhari forthwith.
The reliefs are: a) a declaration that the failure or refusal of the
Attorney General to arraign and prosecute Buhari for the offences of
forgery, perjury, false declaration (breach of oath of conduct for a public
officer is illegal and unconstitutional); and b) a declaration that the
alleged failure or refusal of the defendants contravenes section 174(1) (a)
of the constitution of Nigeria, 1999 and section 4 of the Police Act (cap
359) Laws of Nigeria, 1990.
No date has been fixed for the hearing. Meanwhile, at a 19 July press
briefing in Abuja, Alhaji Buhari vowed not to resign from his position as
the speaker of the house, saying that the allegations levelled against him
were a calculated attempt to destroy him politically.
He said: “all allegations against me are false and malicious. It is a
calculated attempt to destroy my political career. I am a law-abiding
citizen. I believe that the court is the most appropriate channel to obtain
redress… I will never step aside or be cajoled into resigning my position,
having been elected as speaker of the House of Representatives, as a result
of unwarranted media intimidation”.
