Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State has dragged his predecessor,
Senator Joshua Dariye to court, demanding N10 billion as compensation
for libel and defamation of character.
Senator Joshua Dariye to court, demanding N10 billion as compensation
for libel and defamation of character.
Joined in the suit is Beacon Newspapers, published in Jos, the State capital.
In a suit No. PLD/J319/2013, filed at Jos High Court, the Governor
through his counsel, Sunday Odey, averred that Joshua Dariye had, in
a newspaper interview libeled him, by calling him a serial thief, who
along with his children and business associates are milking the State
treasury dry.
through his counsel, Sunday Odey, averred that Joshua Dariye had, in
a newspaper interview libeled him, by calling him a serial thief, who
along with his children and business associates are milking the State
treasury dry.
Jang is contending that in a publication by The Beacon Newspaper,
published on June 2, 2013, the defendant had said, among others that,
“Jang is the most corrupt human being you are yet to know. He has used
religion for that purpose and I want to be quoted. Jang is very corrupt’.
published on June 2, 2013, the defendant had said, among others that,
“Jang is the most corrupt human being you are yet to know. He has used
religion for that purpose and I want to be quoted. Jang is very corrupt’.
It went on thus; “The author of corruption starts with Jang and ends with
him. In fact, Jang can be described as the House of Eli. Eli’s children
were carting away offerings brought to the alter; sacred sacrifices. I
want to challenge Jang on what was his balance sheet between 199-2007?
This was a man who could hardly afford any income. I remember when I
was in Benue Cement; though my magnanimity helped him. Today,
because he is stealing public funds, he has the audacity to brand me
as corrupt. I don’t think he has any moral right to do so.”
him. In fact, Jang can be described as the House of Eli. Eli’s children
were carting away offerings brought to the alter; sacred sacrifices. I
want to challenge Jang on what was his balance sheet between 199-2007?
This was a man who could hardly afford any income. I remember when I
was in Benue Cement; though my magnanimity helped him. Today,
because he is stealing public funds, he has the audacity to brand me
as corrupt. I don’t think he has any moral right to do so.”
In the writ of summons, a copy of which was obtained by Dailypost in
Jos, on Thursday, Governor Jang said “The words published and
circulated by the defendants touched on my integrity, libelous and
therefore defamatory to me and my reputation as the Governor of
Plateau State.
Jos, on Thursday, Governor Jang said “The words published and
circulated by the defendants touched on my integrity, libelous and
therefore defamatory to me and my reputation as the Governor of
Plateau State.
The Governor in a statement of claim averred that, “The publication
meant that I’m not capable of leadership, and grossly incompetent as
Governor of Plateau State.
meant that I’m not capable of leadership, and grossly incompetent as
Governor of Plateau State.
Adding that, his predecessor, by the interview, implied that he (Jang)
has “unforgiving spirit, deceitful, corrupt, morally depraved,
evil, a murderer and a coward”.
has “unforgiving spirit, deceitful, corrupt, morally depraved,
evil, a murderer and a coward”.
He further averred that the words in the alleged offensive publication
portrayed him as not only unprepared to govern, but that he is
only on an revenge mission through his negative sentiments towards
group of people from other ethnic groups; nepotistic and hypocritical.
portrayed him as not only unprepared to govern, but that he is
only on an revenge mission through his negative sentiments towards
group of people from other ethnic groups; nepotistic and hypocritical.
The defendant is therefore asking the court to order Dariye to wholly
and unambiguously retract the libelous publication in the said
newspaper and four other national newspapers.
and unambiguously retract the libelous publication in the said
newspaper and four other national newspapers.
Jang also wants Dariye to tender an unreserved apology to him by
publishing same in the second defendant and four other national
newspapers.
publishing same in the second defendant and four other national
newspapers.
The governor is also asking the court to direct Dariye to pay him N10
billion as aggravated and general damages.
billion as aggravated and general damages.
The court is yet to fix a date for hearing.
Source: Daily Post
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