21st May, 2014
Malam Nasir El-Rufai, a chieftain of All Progressives Congress, has sued the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, PDP National Publicity Secretary, and Thisday Newspapers at an Abuja High Court.
El-Rufai, Interim Deputy National Secretary of APC, sued the PDP for an alleged malicious and defamatory publication against him published in Thisday newspaper on 17 and 23 March.
The former FCT Minister wants the court to order the defendants to pay him N1.5 billion as general damages for injury, embarrassment, and distress in respect to loss of reputation and goodwill.
He prayed the court for an order directing the defendants to publish an apology with the same prominence as the offending publication against him.
El-Rufai also said that there should be an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from further publication of defamatory content against him.
He contended that Metuh maliciously, unlawfully and without any justification uttered defamatory statement against him.
Responding to the suit, PDP National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo said PDP would study the suit, defend the party’s integrity, the Federal Government and more importantly the country’s democracy.