Court fixes June 3 for ruling on N100b suit by Abacha’s aide

An FCT High Court on Wednesday fixed June 3 for ruling in a N100 billion suit filed by ex-Nigerian Army Corporal, Aminu Mohammed, against the Lagos State Government.
Mohammed, a former security aide to late General Sani Abacha, is claiming the amount as damages for alleged wrongful detention and conviction by the Lagos State Government.
He also sued the Lagos State Attorney-General in 2010, challenging his arrest, detention and subsequent conviction by a Lagos High Court over the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.
It will be recalled that the Lagos High Court handed down a 59-year jail term to Mohammed and Aremu Shofolahan, the Personal Assistant to late Abiola.
The decision of the Lagos court was, however, dismissed by the Court of Appeal for lack of merit.
Justice Salisu Garba of the FCT High Court fixed the date after hearing arguments by two counsel.
Mohammed’s counsel, James Ocholi (SAN), argued that his client had reasonable cause of action against the Lagos State Government.
Ocholi urged the court to proceed to hear the matter and dismiss the defendant’s prayer.
He said that Mohammed was wrongfully detained and convicted by the defendant, which made the applicant to file a suit demanding for enforcement of his right.
He said the Court of Appeal had affirmed that his client was innocent of all allegations against him.
In his submission, counsel to the Lagos State Government, Lawal Pedro (SAN), argued that the suit was incompetent and an attempt to waste the time of the court.
Pedro urged the court to determine whether Mohammed had a reasonable cause of action to institute the matter.
“Yes, there was a trial, a conviction and there was an acquittal by the Court of Appeal,” Pedro said.
He, therefore, urged the court to dismiss the applicant’s prayer and adjourn the matter to enable both parties to file their written addresses.
Pedro had earlier challenged the jurisdiction of the court to determine the case.