Jang Sues Ex-governor Dariye For N10B For Calling Him A Thief

Gov. Jang sues ex-governor Dariye for calling him serial thief and corrupt; wants N10bn



One of the interesting elements of our democracy is that governors and presidents who are coated in the cloak of immunity nevertheless can sue anyone else as they wish. That’s one of the reasons why many have clamoured for the immunity clause to be struck out – He who can sue should himself be liable to be sued.

While Nigerians continue to await that day, the Plateau state governor, Jonah Jang, has sued his predecessor, Senator Joshua Dariye, before a Jos High Court. Jang is demanding a N10bn compensation for libel and defamation of character.

Joined in the suit is Beacon Newspapers, published in Jos, the state capital.

Jang’s suit was filed on his behalf by his counsel, Sunday Odey. He averred that Dariye had, in a newspaper interview published on June 2, 2013, libelled him by calling him a serial thief, who, along with his children and business associates, had been milking the state treasury dry.

In the said interview, Dariye had reportedly said, “Jang is the most corrupt human being you are yet to know. He has used religion and I want to be quoted, Jang is very corrupt. The author of corruption starts with Jang and ends with him. In fact, Jang can be described as the House of Eli. Eli’s children were carting away offerings brought to the alter—sacred sacrifices.”

Those words touched Jang. He said in the writ of summons that the words touched on his integrity and were defamatory to him and his reputation as the Governor of Plateau state. He said that what the publication meant that he was not capable of leadership and grossly incompetent as the governor of Plateau State and that he had an unforgiving spirit, among others.

Jang also averred that the words in the alleged offensive publication portrayed him as not only unprepared for governance, but that he was only on a revenge mission through his negative sentiments towards people from other ethnic groups.

The governor is also asking the court to direct Dariye to pay him N10bn as aggravated and general damages. The court is yet to fix the date for hearing.

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