By Umar Muhammad Puma
The Borno state government has filed a two billion naira libel suit against the state’s former Commissioner for Information, Inuwa Bwala and the National Trail newspaper belonging to him, over a publication it claims has grossly defamed the reputation of the Government and its officials.
The state government is also seeking a court injunction restraining both Inuwa Bwala and National trail either by themselves, agents, servant privies or anybody acting on their behalf, from further publishing any malicious publication against the state government or any of its establishments pending the hearing and final determination of the suit subjudice before the court.
The action was filed pursuant to relevant rules of Borno state high court 2014”Where it accused the former commissioner of attempts to unjustly incite the public against the government through using his newspaper, National Trail, to attract breach of public peace.
“As a starting point, a private legal firm contracted by the State Government has written to Mr Bwala and his Newspaper, demanding an apology published on the front page of subsequent edition of National Trail, which must also be aired on an International network breakfast show of the African Independent Television which aired the libelous publication in its Newspaper headlines of Monday, June 30, 2014 at about 8am and also on five National Newspapers within seven days; failure of which the Government will move on sue both Bwala and his Newspaper for a claim of two billion naira as damages.
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