The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyanya, Abuja, has adjourned hearing in a suit over alleged defamatory statements and claims of financial impropriety involving a former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Kabiru T. Turaki, SAN.

Listed as claimant in the suit is Turaki, while Musa Bashir Baffa, Hadiza Musa Baffa and Uwani Arabi are the 1st to 3rd defendants, respectively.

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.

At the resumed sitting, counsel to the claimant, Kalat Nathaniel Jatau, informed the court that an application by way of notice of motion seeking to amend the writ of summons was ripe for hearing.

However, counsel for the defendants, Sani Suleyman, opposed the immediate hearing, arguing that the defendants were only served with the motion on January 15, 2026, and therefore required time to respond. He consequently applied for another date.

Justice Shafa upheld the defence application and adjourned the matter to March 12, 2026, for hearing of the pending motion.

In the substantive suit, Turaki is asking the court to declare that allegations made against him by the defendants are false, slanderous and defamatory.

He is also seeking orders compelling the defendants to refund several sums of money, including ₦27 million allegedly paid as rent, ₦15 million for the purchase of a vehicle, as well as various naira and dollar amounts said to have been refunded to victims of alleged fraud linked to the second defendant, alongside other associated costs.

The claimant is further seeking ₦500 million as general damages for alleged injury to his reputation, in addition to an order directing the defendants to publish a public retraction and apology in national newspapers.

In their response, the defendants filed a comprehensive statement of defence denying the claims and counter-alleging sexual abuse, exploitation, and breach of trust by the claimant.

They also filed a counter-claim seeking monthly maintenance, provision of accommodation and a vehicle, as well as ₦1 billion in general damages for alleged abandonment of the second defendant and her child.

The defendants further contended that paternity is a central issue in dispute, which they argued can only be resolved through a DNA test.

They also indicated their intention to rely on documents, medical reports, voice notes, and electronic communications during the trial.

The matter is scheduled to return to court on March 12, 2026, for a hearing of the pending motion.