TheCable

Abubakar Talba, justice of the federal capital territory (FCT) high court, Abuja, has fined Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, N10, 000 for failing to produce his witness in a libel case against Olisa Metuh, former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesman.

El-Rufai had filed a N1.5bn suit against Metuh for linking him to Boko Haram in 2014.

He had for four times – since June 2016 – failed to produce his witness to substantiate his claim against Metuh at the court.

On Wednesday, when the matter was called up, Rabi Adamu, counsel to the governor, told the court that his witness was not available to testify. He then asked for an adjournment.

Responding, Ben-Chuks Nwosu, counsel to Metuh, said the failure of the plaintiff to produce his witness showed that there no case against the former PDP spokesman.

He described the development as an abuse of court process, urging the court not to permit it.

Nwosu, therefore, prayed the court to compel the plaintiff to produce his witness or immediately close the case.

He also asked the court to award a cost of N150,000 in favour of his client.

Ruling, Talba awarded a cost of N10,000 in favour of Metuh,  he then adjourned the case till July 5.