British man's N1bn suit against Police IG Set For Jan 31

An Abuja Federal High Court has fixed January 31, 2013 to hear an application for amendment of the originating summons, as well as the notice of preliminary objection, in the suit filed by a Briton, Mr. Sayed Bukhari.

The petitioner is praying the court to compel the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to pay him N1bn as damages for the failure of the police to investigate his complaint that two police officers robbed him at the Millennium Park in Abuja on October 29, 2011.

The court, presided by Justice Gabriel Kolawole, granted the adjournment after the police said they had not received the plaintiff’s process for the application for amendment of the originating summons. The defendant also pleaded for time to react to the application. The Briton is also claiming N1bn damages for a press statement in which the Federal Capital Territory police command cast doubts on his complaint.



However, in a preliminary objection he filed in the court, the IG asked the court to dismiss the suit on the grounds that he was not responsible for the alleged libel and that the action was statute barred. In the suit filed by his counsel, Mr. Bamidele Aturu, Bukhari claimed the police authorities not only failed to investigate his complaint, but also made “malicious and libelous” statements against his person. The contentious statement was credited to the Public Relations Officer of the FCT police command, Mr. Jimoh Moshood.