Court Grants Defence Adjournment Request In Turaki’s Defamation Suit
By Our Correspondence
A High Court in Abuja has adjourned the hearing in a ₦500 million defamation suit filed by former Minister Kabiru Turaki, SAN, against defendants, to March 12, 2026.
The case, marked FCT/HC/GWD/CV/189/2024, came up before Justice A. Y. Shafa, but proceedings were stalled following an application for adjournment by the defence.
Counsel to Turaki, Kalat Nathaniel Jatau, had informed the court that an application to amend the writ of summons was ripe for hearing.
However, defence counsel Sani Suleyman opposed immediate hearing, citing late service of the motion on January 15, 2026, and requested time to respond.
Justice Shafa upheld the defence application and adjourned the matter to March 12, 2026, for hearing of the pending motion.
Turaki is asking the court to declare allegations made against him by the defendants as false, slanderous, and defamatory.
He is seeking orders compelling the defendants to refund several sums of money, including ₦27 million allegedly paid as rent and ₦15 million for a vehicle.
The claimant is also seeking ₦500 million as general damages for alleged injury to his reputation and an order directing the defendants to publish a public retraction and apology.
The defendants have filed a comprehensive statement of defence denying the claims and counter-alleging sexual abuse, exploitation, and breach of trust by Turaki.
According to the statement of defense, the Defendants alleged that it was on 27th day of May, 2015, the Claimant took advantage of her and had sexual intercourse with her at about 12 a.m without her consent in Asokoro.
Statement further have it that the 2nd Defendant resisted but she was over powered by the Claimant because as at the time she was sleeping and the Claimant has unrestricted asses to the room, infact nobody came to her aid when she shouted for help reason being that as at then the Claimant is a serving Minister of the Federal Public of Nigeria.
They are seeking monthly maintenance, provision of accommodation and a vehicle, as well as ₦1 billion in general damages for alleged abandonment.
The defendants contend that paternity is a central issue in dispute, which they argue can only be resolved through a DNA test.
The matter is scheduled to return to court on March 12, 2026, for hearing of the pending motion.
