A Bauchi State High Court has on Wednesday adjourned the lawsuit filed by a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara against an online Media outlet, WikkiTimes to March 21, 2022, for hearing.
In a lawsuit marked BA/332/2021 filed in January against WikkiTimes Hon. Dogara argued that the publication against him was defamatory.
Mr Dogara in the lawsuit is seeking N2 billion, “being general and exemplary damages against the defendant for libel”, and an additional N500,000 as cost of filing and prosecution.
A counsel to the Plaintiff, Barrister S.N Yusuf told the court that the defendant who is the Publisher of the WikkiTimes Newspaper Haruna Mohammed Salisu was duly served with the petition.
Barr. Yusuf prayed the court to grant him a date for the hearing of the lawsuit, an application the defendant counsel Barrister S. D. Idris, acceded to.
In an extensive investigation by WikkiTimes, the lawmaker mismanaged N1 billion constituency project nominated by him to build model schools in Bauchi South Federal Constituency.
Investigation: How Yakubu Dogara, UBEC Squandered N1 Billion Model School Projects
The story uncovered how Mr Dogara failed in delivering the model school project, just as the contractors who were awarded the contracts shortchanged several communities billed to benefit from the project.
The report also cited how Mr Dogara stashed tricycles and books in his house meant to be distributed to the constituents in the area, tricycles he later distributed after the story was publsihed.
Dogara Distributes Stashed Tricycles After WikkiTimes’ Investigation
WikkiTimes’ Publisher Haruna Mohammed Salisu, his family was threatened, allegedly by a suspected syndicate who appeared rattled with the story.
WikiTimes’ Publisher, Family Threatened, After Dogara’s Constituency Story
Mr Dogara through his solicitors, BAUSHE CHAMBERS had earlier written to WikkiTimes, calling on the medium to withdraw the publication and tender an apology, a request the medium turned down, insisting its reporting was credible.
The presiding Judge Justice M. A. Sambo adjourned the case to March 21, 2022 for hearing.
