Nasir El-Rufai Files N3 Billion Defamation Suit Against Kaduna Lawmaker

In a shocking turn of events, Nasir El-Rufai, the immediate-past governor of Kaduna State, has filed a defamation suit against Henry Marah, a member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, seeking N3 billion in damages.

The suit follows an interview granted by Marah on Channels TV on June 5, where he made certain comments about El-Rufai’s administration. According to El-Rufai’s lawyers, the comments were malicious, defamatory, and injurious to his reputation.

El-Rufai’s lawyers claimed that the interview was widely circulated in print and electronic versions, accessible to the general public both locally and internationally. They further stated that the interview has done irreparable injury and damage to El-Rufai’s hard-earned reputation, portraying him as corrupt, a fraud, a thief, liar, deceiver, untrustworthy, unreliable, and someone who lacks integrity and breached his oath of office.

El-Rufai also accused the television station of providing a platform for Marah to make the defamatory comments and sought an order directing Channels TV to pull down, withdraw, or otherwise stop or cease the publication of the same defamatory content from YouTube forthwith.

Furthermore, El-Rufai sought a declaration that he is entitled to an unreserved apology from each of the defendants for the defamatory content uttered against him and published/aired live by Channels TV.

The case has been assigned suit number CV/3188/24, with Mr. Marah and Channels TV as the first and second defendants, respectively.

This development comes as a significant blow to Marah, who may face serious consequences if found guilty of defamation. The case is currently pending in court, and it remains to be seen how it will unfold.