By Ibrahim Abdul’Aziz
Yola
A construction firm, Hydro-Source and Resources, handling the N1.2 billion World Bank-assisted rural roads project in Adamawa has dragged the state House of Assembly to court over alleged libelous statement.
The firm, which is claiming N1 billion damages, sued the Speaker of the House, the House Committee on Rural and Community Development and seven others, claiming N1 billion damages.
The firm alleged that the House Committee had in a newspaperpublication accused the company of conniving with the Ministry of Rural Development and that of Rural Access Mobility Project (RAMP-2) to defraud World Bank and the people of Adamawa.
The case is before Justice Nathan Musa of Yola High Court 1, who has granted an order of interim injunction, which among others restrained the Assembly from taking any action against the firm and its officials pending the determination of the motion on notice.
“Having carefully perused the reliefs sought in this application, the affidavit evidence and the written address of counsel, which he adopted as his oral arguments before the court, I am of the view that this application has merit and ought to be granted as prayed.”
Justice Nathan fixed November 14 for the hearing of the motion on notice.
Speaking on the suit, counsel to the firm, Mr. Ahmed Garba, said it was filed following the expiration of the 48-hour ultimatum given the House “to retract the libelous publication and apologise to the company.”
