Court Dismisses Case of Defamation Against Senate President

 

An Ilorin Magistrates Court on Thursday struck out a suit against a 37-year-old teacher, Abiodun Baba accused of defaming the Senate President, Bukola Saraki. The man was arraigned for posting on his facebook account messages that disparaged and defamed the Senate President.

 

PM News reported that the complainant, Alhaji Jimoh Adesina, Chairman Kwar North Senatorial District of the All Progressives Congress, said that the accused engraved the materials on his facebook wall knowing fully well that they will be harmful to the image of Saraki.

 

The complainant also accused Baba of inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and injurious falsehood posts on Facebook. He also alleged that Baba’s postings were capable of causing disaffection and were disparaging against Saraki.

 

The offences, he said, were contrary to sections 113, 114, 393, 394 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria and section 883and 204 of the Criminal Code Act. The  charges were filed by the Chamber of S. I. Solagberu and Co, Ilorin at the Magistrate court.

 

However,   Sikiru Solagberu,  lawyer to the complainant,  on July 28, moved an oral application to withdraw the case against the accused. He said the decision followed appeals and intervention by prominent citizens in the state and the Ilorin Traditional Council.

 

The Magistrate, Ahmed Dasuki in his ruling held that the reasons adduced by the complainant are weighty enough and did not require any application or affidavit in support.

 

He said the reasons given by the complainant to withdraw the case were also genuine and therefore granted the prayers of the complainant. He advised the accused to henceforth be of good conduct.