Kaduna State Governor Sues Ex-Vanguard Bureau Chief for False Publication

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Mr. Luka Binniyat,   Former Kaduna bureau chief, Vanguard Newspapers
Mr. Luka Binniyat,
Former Kaduna bureau chief, Vanguard Newspapers

The Kaduna State Governor, Mr. Nasir El-Rufai, has filed a lawsuit against the former Kaduna Bureau Chief of Vanguard Newspaper, Mr. Luka Binniyat, for alleged false and malicious publication.

Luka was first arrested on February 21, 2017, and charged to a Chief Magistrate Court 1, Kaduna.

He was arrested as a result of a report published in Vanguard Newspaper on January 27, 2017, alleging the murder of five students of the College of Education, Gidan Wire, by suspected herdsmen.

The journalist was granted bail by the court but had to remain in prison custody for one day since he could not immediately meet the bail conditions.

The ex-Vanguard Bureau Chief was able to secure his bail the next day and was discharged and acquitted by the court after six appearances.

Governor El-Rufai did not appeal the ruling but rather, he filed a similar suit before the Kaduna State High Court 10, presided over by late Bashir Sukola.

Justice Sukola handed the accused with an impossible bail condition and subsequently ordered him to remain in prison custody.

Mr. Binniyat was sent to the Kaduna Central Prison where he spent 93 days before the judge accepted to review the bail conditions on October 12, 2017.

Barely two weeks after the journalist regained his freedom, Justice Sukola passed on after a brief illness and the case was reassigned to Justice Mairo Mohammed of the Kaduna State High Court 3.

The case, which was first mentioned before Justice Mohammed, on January 3, 2018, has been adjourned five times before Mr. Binniyat was finally arraigned in the new court.