People’s Democratic Party (PDP), former Minister of Finance Nenadi Usman and two chieftains of the party, failed Thursday in their bid to stop a suit instituted against them over a N360m campaign debt allegedly owed an Abuja-based firm, Twinkle Nigeria Limited.
Apart from Usman and the PDP, others are Senator Ahmadu Ali and Prof Jerry Gana.
N360m debt was said to have been incurred by the PDP’s Presidential Campaign Organisation for the 2015 election, in which Usman served as Director of Finance; Ali as Director General and
former Information Minister, Gana as Director, Contact and Mobilisation.
Plaintiff, Twinkle Nigeria Limited, said in its suit marked CV/2733/2015 that it rendered support services for the PDP presidential campaign in all the 36 states, and for which the party’s committee managed by Usman, Ali and Gana failed to pay.
The Justice Salisu Garba of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama Thursday dismissed an objection filed by Usman seeking the dismissal of the suit.
In a ruling, Justice Garba held that contrary to Usman’s contention the suit filed by Twinkle Nigeria Limited was competent as it raised “triable issues”.
Usman is also being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in relation to the disbursement of funds for the PDP presidential campaign.
Justice Garba also held that the suit by Twinkle was competent. He directed Usman, Ali, Gana and their party, who are respondents in the suit, to file their defence.
The plaintiff can sue the 4th defendant (Usman) being the Director of Finance and acted on behalf of the organisation.
I also hold that the suit discloses reasonable cause of action. In the light of the analysis above, the notice of preliminary objection is hereby dismissed.
There are triable issues to be determined in the suit. I here direct the respondents to file their respective pleadings,” Justice Garba said.
He adjourned to September 27 for hearing. The long adjournment was as a result of the impending court vacation.
A director in Twinkle, Agarawu Tunde, stated in a supporting affidavit to the suit that his company had on January 7, 2015 submitted a proposal for the branding and beautification of the PDP presidential campaign venues in all the 36 states to the party’s presidential campaign organisation with suggested cost of N15m per state.
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