Court Adjourns Sule’s N100.5bn Defamation Suit Against Gundu

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, has adjourned to Monday, January 19, 2026, hearing on the N100.5 billion defamation suit instituted by Nasarawa State governor, Abdullahi Sule, against the leader of Tiv Professionals, Prof. Zacharys Anger Gundu, following a request for time by the claimant.

The suit, marked FCT/HC/CV/3554/2025, arose from comments allegedly made by Gundu at a public forum in Abuja on July 10, 2025, which the governor claims were defamatory.

Governor Sule wants N100.5 billion in damages and litigation costs, alleging that the remarks damaged his reputation.

Gundu is accused of implying that Fulani terrorists were harboured in Nasarawa State and allowed to carry out attacks in neighbouring Benue State, while Tiv farmers were allegedly displaced in Nasarawa to make way for Fulani herders.

When the matter came up for hearing, counsel to Governor Sule applied for an adjournment to enable the claimants file a counter-affidavit in response to the defendant’s notice of preliminary objection, which challenges the jurisdiction of the court.

Counsel to the defendant, Prof. S. T. Hon (SAN), who appeared with T. J. Aondo (SAN) and 15 other lawyers, opposed the adjournment application.

However, the trial judge granted the request and adjourned the case to January 19, 2026, for the hearing of the preliminary objection.

The court directed the claimant’s counsel to file their counter-affidavit on or before 12 noon on January 16, 2026.