Court orders ex-police commissioner, Tsav to pay N10m for libel

A Makurdi High Court has ordered former Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav and a newspaper to pay N10 million, jointly and severally, as damages to Governor Samuel Ortom’s aide, Mr. Abrahams Kwaghngu, for libel.

Justice Maurice Ikpambese, who presided over the case, also ordered them to publish a retraction of the defamatory publication in three dailies, as well as pay advertorial on the prime beat of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Radio Benue, and Harvest FM.

Mr. Kwaghngu instituted a suit against Tsav and the newspaper, for describing him as a “killer, thug, and vandal”, who killed Hausa and Kabawa people during a 2013 crisis in Gbajimba.

He was also accused of destroying their property, as contained in a story published in August 31, 2015.

Justice Ikpambese said: “Considering the falsity of the story, the first defendant had no moral, social or legal interest or duty to have published it.

“It is an abuse of powers for the first defendant to enlarge his coast by renewing and wading into Gbajimba crisis, when he found nothing against the plaintiff during the Gen. Atom Kpera-led panel.”

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