A defamation suit filed by Nasir el-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, against former senator Shehu Sani has been thrown out by a Kaduna high court.

El-Rufai had sought N2 billion in damages over comments attributed to Sani. The suit, filed in 2018, claimed that Sani defamed him by labeling him as a “drunk, loose cannon, and an embarrassment to President Muhammadu Buhari.”

El-Rufai argued that these statements were false and damaging to his reputation.

However, the presiding judge, H.A.L Balogun, deemed the case an abuse of court processes as similar cases were filed by el-Rufai in multiple courts within the state.

Sani’s counsel, Kimi Livingstone Appah, highlighted the multiple filings, and the judge agreed with the objection, ultimately dismissing the case.

Following the verdict, Appah expressed satisfaction, seeing it as a victory for democracy and freedom of expression.