Niger APC stalwart sues former COS Balarabe claiming N2b damages

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

An All AProgressives Congress stalwart in Niger state, Alhaji Abubakar Katcha has instituted case claiming N2 billion damages against the immediate past Chief of Staff Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe for malicious prosecution that was later discharge and acquitted.
The case instituted in High Court 3 Minna presided over by Justice Maryam Mahmood, the plaintiff counsels Anietie U.J Udoh Esq and Opeyemi Makinde Esq have told the court to order the defendant to pay a sum of N1 billion general damages for malicious prosecution.
The Court directed the Ibrahim Balarabe to also pay the plaintiff another N1 billion for been aggreviated and or examplary damages as well directed the defendant to publish public apology to the plaintiff in three different national newspapers.
Meanwhile, an order of the court awarding substantial sum as the court may assess as cost the suit in favour of the plaintiff, as well as an order directing the plaintiff to pay to the defendant 10% interest per month on the sum to be awarded above released from the date of judgement debt is fully and finally liquidated.
The plaintiff who is one of the founding fathers of the All Progressives Congress APC in Niger state, Alhaji Abubakar Katcha was arrested, detained and prosecuted from 4/12/2019 to 10/12/2021.
The former Chief of Staff COS, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe petitioned the plaintiff for criminal case for inciting the public on various social media platforms and insult the government, governor’s immediate family and constituted themselves to be security threat. The case which was handled by Minna magistrate court two later discharge and acquitted the case against Katcha for lack of merit which was not appeal after 30 days of judgement.
The notice of the case hearing has been slated for 27/6/2023 by the High Court 3 Minna.