Malam Abba Ali, the Chairman of the Tricycle and Motorcycle Association of Nigeria, Karu LGA Chapter, on Thursday dragged three members of the association for alleged defamation.

Ali, also known as Dan Borno,  filed the case before the Upper Area Court, Mararaba Gurku, against Salisu Muktar, Maiwada Sidi and Abdullahi Gana.

According to the complaint dated July 24, Ali averred that the defendants conspired and maliciously wrote and signed a petition addressed to the Chairman of Karu LGA against him.

In the petition, he alleged that the defendants claimed that he diverted N107 million belonging to the association to his personal use.

The complainant averred that the allegation was totally false and was made with intent to injure his reputation and expose him to public odium and hatred.

He further averred that on June 29, he wrote a letter to the Chairman of Karu LGA refuting and denying the allegation as malicious and false.

He stated that upon investigation, four out of the seven initial signatories to the petition distanced themselves from it and wrote a letter withdrawing the petition.

Ali added that on July 7,, through his counsel, Abubakar Usman, the defendants were served a letter demanding withdrawal of the petition within one week, but they failed and refused to comply.

He said the refusal confirmed the malicious intent of the defendants, hence the action.

The complainant stated that the acts of the defendants constitute offence of Criminal Conspiracy and Criminal Defamation contrary to Sections 96 and 392 of the Penal Code Law respectively.

The counsel to the complainant, told the court that all efforts made to serve the third defendant, failed.

He, therefore, prayed to the court to serve the third defendant with a criminal summons and a warrant of arrest against him.

Responding to the allegations, the two defendants present in court pleaded not guilty to the charge against them.

Also, the counsel to the first defendant, C. J. Abin and the counsel to the second defendant, Shide Solomon prayed the court to grant bail to their clients.

The judge, Malam Muhammad Yakubu, granted the application and ordered the immediate arrest of the third defendant.

Yakubu also admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N500,000 each with one surety each in like sum.

The magistrate ordered the sureties to deposit their passport photos and ID cards.

He held that if the defendants failed to meet the conditions, they should be remanded in the Keffi Correctional Service until the next adjourned date.

The judge adjourned the matter until Nov. 24 for hearing.