The Nasarawa State Government and Engr. Abdullahi Sule, Executive Governor of the state (Claimants/Applicants), have sued Prof. Gundu, claiming One Hundred Billion, Five Hundred Million Naira (N100.5b) in damages and cost of litigation.
On July 10, 2025, during a townhall meeting by News Central TV, Prof. Gundu, speaking on behalf of Tiv professionals, accused Governor Sule of providing a safe haven, refuge, and taking the lands of his citizens and giving them to foreign “Fulani” terrorists. Other commentators have also labelled the North Central State as “axis of evil,” with the renaming of the cargo airport in the state to Usman Danfodio Cargo Airport, further raising eyebrows.
Governor Sule, who considered the comments offensive, had demanded a retraction and apology, failure of which he indicated that he would seek redress in court. Prof. Gundu called his bluff, asking the Nasarawa State Governor to go to court.
Many professional groups and organisations, including the Mzehemen U Tiv Foundation (MUTF), in expressing solidarity with Prof. Gundu said they will not remain passive while Prof. Gundu is dragged through the courts for defending his community.
In the ensuing legal action, entered as Suit No. FCT/MH/CV/3554/2025, in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja Judcial Division Holden at Maitama before Hon Justice H. Mu’azu, Prof. Gundu is joined as the lone defendant. The 45-page Writ of Summons, endorsed by Ahmed Raji, SAN, on behalf of the Claimants/Applicants, was brought pursuant to Order 2 Rule 2(5) of the Rules of the Court.
An Ex-Parte Motion, referenced as M/11566/2025 dated September 16 and filed on the same day, seeking the leave of the court to serve the Writ of Summons and it’s accompanying processes, as well as all other court processes that may be filled or issued from the court (the “Applicants’ processes”) on Prof. Gundu as well as an Order for the leave of the court to serve Prof. Gundu by substituted means was granted the claimants on September 22.
According to the Writ of Summons seen by TNT, the Claimants/Applicants are praying for a declaration that the words, address, remarks, and comments made by Prof. Gundu at the News Central TV town hall meeting of July 10, 2025, are false, wrongful, malicious, and defamatory of the Claimants jointly and/or severally; an Order of court compelling Prof. Gundu to retract his words, address, remarks, comments and publication and tender unreserved apology in at least five national daily newspapers and any two social media platforms including TikTok, Facebook and YouTube within seven days of the judgment of the court; an Order of perpetual injunction restraining Prof. Gundu from making, publishing, or causing to be published the said (or any other) defamatory words, address, remarks, comments and publication against the Claimants; an Order directing Prof. Gundu to pay the Claimants One Hundred Billion Naira (N100b) in exemplary and/or aggravated damages; an Order for damages as may be determined by the court for malicious and defamatory publication; the sum of Five Hundred Million Naira (N500m) as cost of litigation; post judgment interest on the judgment sum at 10 per cent per annum from the date of the judgment till liquidation of the judgment sum; and for further order(s) as the court may deem fit to make in the circumstance.
Governor Sule, in his statement of claim, addresses himself as someone renowned for promoting peaceful coexistence among different ethnic and religious groups in Nigeria.
Furthermore, the Nasarawa State Governor avers that Prof. Gundu’s words, address, remarks, and comments as published mean he (Engr. Sule) is a sympathiser, protector, and an enabler of armed bandits who have wrecked havoc on Benue State; that Prof. Gundu’s words, address, remarks, and comments as published mean that he (Engr. Sule) is a sponsor of hostage taking, banditary, kidnapping, looting, marauding, violence, thievery, and land grabbing in Benue State; that Prof. Gundu’s words mean that he (Engr. Sule) is complicit in forceful and illegal allocation of land belonging to the indigenous communities to the marauding Fulani herdsmen attacking various states including Benue State, collaborates with, protects, and houses murderous Fulani herdsmen, insurgents, and terrorists that are responsible for attacks and killings in parts of Nasarawa State, Benue State, and other regions; that he (Engr. Sule) aids and abets external aggression against his own people; that he (Engr. Sule) is guilty of treachery and gross misconduct and unfit to hold public office; that he (Engr. Sule) willfully undermine the peace, unity, and security of his state; and that Nasarawa State is a safe haven for bandits, marauders, thieves, kidnappers, etc.
According to the statement of claim, since the comments by Prof. Gundu, Engr. Sule has been inundated with calls because the comments have seriously injured his character, credit, reputation and that he has been brought into public scandal, opprobrium, opium, contempt, and disrepute.
The Claimants will be calling five witnesses, including Engr. Sule at the hearing of the suit, TNT understands. Other witnesses will be Mr Sunday Bitrus, Mr Andefiki Iramae, Mr. Ibrahim Abdullahi Hassan, and a witnessed to be subpoenaed.
The matter is adjourned for November 26 for hearing.
Efforts to speak with Prof. Gundu on the subject proved abortive as at the time of filing this report.
