Defamation Case: Court Rejects Saraki’s Objection, Orders Arraignment

A Kwara State High Court in Ilorin has dismissed a preliminary objection filed by former Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki, clearing the way for his arraignment in a criminal defamation case instituted over alleged defamatory statements against Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

Justice M. O. Folorunsho delivered the ruling on Friday after considering arguments presented by both the defence and prosecution, holding that the court has the jurisdiction to hear the matter and that the charge before it discloses offences recognized under the laws of Kwara State.

The ruling marks a significant development in the legal dispute, which stems from allegations that Saraki made defamatory statements against Governor AbdulRazaq through posts published on his verified social media platforms.

During the proceedings, Saraki’s lead counsel, Jimoh Mumini (SAN), represented in court by T. A. Hammed, urged the court to decline jurisdiction, strike out the charge and terminate the criminal proceedings. The defence argued that the High Court lacked the legal authority to entertain the matter and questioned the competence of the charge brought against the former Senate President.

The prosecution team, led by Chief Rafiu Balogun (SAN) and Chief Taye Oniyinde (SAN), opposed the application, insisting that the court was properly constituted to hear the case. According to the prosecution, the charge discloses offences punishable under the Kwara State Penal Code, urging the court to dismiss the preliminary objection and allow the criminal proceedings to continue.

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In his ruling, Justice Folorunsho considered all 17 issues raised by the defence and found no merit in the application. “The preliminary objection lacks merit,” the judge ruled, dismissing every ground advanced by Saraki’s legal team. He further held that the alleged offences are triable before the court, affirming that the High Court possesses the territorial jurisdiction to hear the case. The judge also ruled that the charge sheet and proof of evidence presented by the prosecution disclose a prima facie case sufficient for the proceedings to continue.

During the hearing, the prosecution requested the issuance of a bench warrant against Saraki following his absence in court. However, Justice Folorunsho declined the request, holding that the defendant’s physical presence was not mandatory while the court was determining interlocutory applications. The judge subsequently directed Saraki to appear before the court on July 22, 2026, for his formal arraignment and to enter his plea.

The criminal charge is based on an alleged social media publication made by Saraki on April 17, 2026, in which he reportedly claimed that Governor AbdulRazaq did not possess a Secondary School Certificate—a constitutional qualification required for anyone seeking election as governor. According to the prosecution, the statements were subsequently republished by several national newspapers, giving them wider circulation.

Prosecutors allege that the publication was false, defamatory and capable of damaging the governor’s reputation while also creating tension that could lead to a breach of public peace. The alleged offence is said to be punishable under Section 399 of the Kwara State Penal Code, Cap. P4, Laws of Kwara State, 2006.

Following the ruling, Saraki announced plans to challenge the decision. In a statement issued through his media office, the former Senate President disclosed that he had instructed his legal team to immediately file an appeal against the High Court’s decision on jurisdiction. Saraki maintained that jurisdiction is a fundamental issue that should be conclusively determined before any criminal trial proceeds.

He also expressed confidence in Nigeria’s judicial process and urged his supporters to remain calm while the legal process runs its course.

With the preliminary objection dismissed, attention now shifts to July 22, 2026, when Saraki is expected to appear before the Kwara State High Court for his formal arraignment. At the hearing, he is expected to enter his plea, after which the court will determine the timetable for the substantive hearing of the alleged criminal defamation case.

The proceedings are being closely watched because they involve two of Kwara State’s most prominent political figures and could have wider political and legal implications ahead of future electoral contests.

Defamation Case: Court Rejects Saraki’s Objection, Orders Arraignment

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11 Edo Kidnap Victims Escape as Abductors Fall Asleep After Overnight Trek

Eleven people abducted while working on their farms in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State have regained their freedom after escaping from their captors when the kidnappers reportedly fell asleep from exhaustion following an overnight trek through the forest. The victims narrated their ordeal at the Edo State Police Command headquarters in Benin City on Friday .

Speaking on behalf of the group, Braimah Destiny recounted that he was returning from his farm when he encountered six armed men carrying guns and cutlasses. According to him, the attackers also seized 10 other people before leading all 11 captives deep into the forest. Braimah said they heard gunshots, which they believed were fired by security operatives, while being taken into the bush . “I was coming from the farm when I met six of them armed with guns and machetes. They also captured others making 11 victims. They took us from one bush to another. It was around six p.m. and we heard the police shooting. They made us walk throughout the night. We got to a place and they told us to hide. They were very tired and they slept off. That was how we ran to the police. The kidnappers beat us and maltreated us,” he stated.

In a separate account, another victim, Gloria Inyanugbo, described a much longer ordeal. She was abducted on January 12 while working on her farm and spent four days in captivity. According to her testimony, after being taken into the bush, the kidnappers demanded to know how much money she had in her bank account. Her husband eventually secured her release by paying a ransom of N3 million, in addition to another N300,000 which the kidnappers demanded for food, hard drugs, and other items. She credited the subsequent arrest of the suspects to community vigilantes and police tracking efforts . “The community vigilante nabbed two of them inside the bush and the police arrested others through tracking. I saw one of them that boasted that nobody can do anything to him. I can’t imagine that the police could arrest them,” she said .

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The Edo State Police Command disclosed that it arrested 32 suspected kidnappers during operations carried out across the state in June. The command also announced that 38 kidnapped victims were rescued through intelligence-led operations and coordinated tactical interventions within the same period . Addressing journalists in Benin City, the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, said the command equally apprehended 15 suspected cultists, three armed robbery suspects, 11 murder suspects, and 14 individuals linked to rape and defilement cases .

Agbonika stated that sustained operations against kidnappers, cult groups, armed robbers, and other violent criminals, backed by enhanced intelligence gathering, had continued to yield positive results. He added that the command remained determined to deny criminal elements safe haven anywhere in the state through intensified security operations . “The accomplishments we showcase today are the outcome of the commitment, professionalism, and selflessness of the Edo State Police Command officers, who collaborate closely with other security agencies and receive patriotic support from the Edo State populace. These successes are heartening, but they also bolster our resolve to work even more to make Edo State one of the Federation’s safest states,” Agbonika said .

The Commissioner further emphasised the importance of public cooperation in achieving these security successes . “As we continue the fight against criminality, I want to sincerely thank the decent and law-abiding citizens of Edo State for their continuing cooperation and faith in the police. The timely information, intelligence, and assistance we receive from members of the public remain crucial to our operational accomplishments,” he stated .

Additional security operations in Edo have yielded further results. Police operatives, in collaboration with local vigilantes and hunters, killed a suspected kidnapper and rescued a 12-year-old girl in the Ayogwiri Community, Uzairue, also in Etsako West . The command’s spokesperson, Moses Yamu, said security officers arrested the suspect while receiving ransom from the victim’s relatives, leading to a gun duel . The victim, Blessing Anani, was rescued unhurt, while a family member who delivered the ransom sustained injuries . In another operation, police rescued two individuals—Godday Irieude and Wisdom Emeka—who were abducted from their farm in the Ewatto area around 1 a.m. on June 26, 2025, tracking the kidnappers to their hideout . The superior firepower of the operatives forced the abductors to flee with gunshot wounds, leading to the successful rescue of the victims unharmed .

Furthermore, the Edo State Government and the police command have launched a manhunt for a suspected arms supplier, identified as Liberty, linked to the kidnapping of a woman at the Benin Vegetable Market . One of the arrested suspects, Marvellous Israel, told police that N1.5 million out of the N2.8 million ransom payment recovered was meant for Liberty, noting that N8 million was collected as ransom for the woman’s release . The police spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem, confirmed that all suspects linked to the Benin market kidnapping have been arrested, while one was killed, and the police are on the trail of the alleged arms supplier . In a separate case, a woman who was abducted alongside her daughter in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area identified her kidnappers when they went to the community market to buy foodstuffs, leading to their arrest by a joint team of military personnel and operatives of the Edo State Security Network after the woman raised the alarm .

11 Edo Kidnap Victims Escape as Abductors Fall Asleep After Overnight Trek