By Umar Faruk Birnin Kebbi
A Kebbi State High Court, presided over by Honourable Justice Nusirat Ibrahim Umar, delivered a judgement on Thursday in Birnin Kebbi in favour of five claimants, who sued CSP Abdullahi Bala Rano, serving with the Kebbi State Police Command as Officer in Charge of Medical, for breaching a contractual business agreement involving over N37 million.
According to the claimants, sometimes in 2023, they entered into an oral agreement with CSP Rano to invest in a palm oil business. They filed their case sometimes in 2024. The claimants, through their counsel, Hussaini Zakariya SAN, presented a statement of claim, seeking declarations and orders against the defendant.
The claimants sought a declaration that the defendant's failure to fulfill his obligations was wrong, malicious, and a breach of fiduciary relationship. They also sought an order directing the defendant to pay the sum of N37,286,000, being the sum of money invested in the defendant's business.
Additionally, the claimants sought an order directing the defendant to pay the sum of N51 million as return on investment, as well as N50 million as general damages. They also sought an order directing the defendant to pay the sum of N3,080,000 weekly, as accrued profits, up to the date of judgement.
In her judgement, Honourable Justice Nusirat Ibrahim Umar affirmed all the claims of the claimants, except for the order praying for the court to direct the defendant to pay the sum of N5 million as the cost of filing and prosecution of the case. Instead, the court held that all parties should bear the burden.
The court agreed with the evidence and testimonies of the claimants, including their statements on oath and the evidence elicited from cross-examinations. The court also agreed with the authorities cited by the claimants' counsel, Hussaini Zakariya SAN, and held that the claimants had proved their case.
During the trial, the claimants presented five witnesses, who all testified against the defendant. These witnesses included Bashar Ibrahim and four other claimants, who all gave detailed accounts of their investment in the palm oil business and the defendant's failure to fulfill his obligations.
On the other hand, the defendant presented three witnesses, including two official witnesses from the EFCC zonal directorates of Sokoto and Kano, as well as the defendant himself, CSP Rano. The defendant's counsel, Barrister Lagalo Dan Lagalo, argued that the claimants had failed to prove their case and urged the court to dismiss the suit with cost.
However, the court disagreed with the defendant's counsel and held that the claimants had proved their case. The court also agreed with the claimants' counsel, Hussaini Zakariya SAN, who argued that the defendant had breached his contractual obligations and was liable to pay damages to the claimants.
In her final judgement, Honourable Justice Nusirat Ibrahim Umar stated, "Judgement is hereby entered in favour of the claimants against the defendant." This judgement was based on the court's firm view that the claimants had provided sufficient proof of their case, demonstrating that the defendant had indeed breached their contractual agreement.
The judgement is a significant victory for the claimants, who had invested heavily in the palm oil business with the defendant. With this judgement, CSP Rano is now required to pay the claimants the sum of N37,286,000, as well as other damages and costs.
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Judiciary