Magistrate Strikes out Criminal Defamation Suit against School Teacher

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imagesAn Ilorin Magistrate Court in Kwara State has struck out criminal defamation charges filed against Mr. Biodun Baba, a 37-year-old primary school teacher  in Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State based on a complaint by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

Mr. Baba was arraigned before an Ilorin Senior Magistrates Court over a post on Facebook which allegedly defamed Dr. Saraki. He was also alleged to have through been inciting the public against Saraki through the Facebook posts.

Criminal charges were filed following a complaint by Alhaji Jimoh Adesina, Chairman, Kwara South Chapter of the APC through his lawyer S. I. Solagberu and Co.

Alhaji Adesina accused Baba of inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and publishing injurious falsehood posts on Facebook capable of causing disaffection and disparaging against Saraki

Mr. Baba was charged with breaching Sections 113, 114, 393, 394 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria and Sections 883 and 204 of the Criminal Code Act.

However, on July 28 Mr. Sikiru Solagberu, lawyer to Alhaji Adesina moved an oral application to withdraw the case against Baba. He said the decision followed appeals and intervention by prominent citizens in the state and the Ilorin Traditional Council. He read a letter he said he received from Alhaji Adesina dated July 26, 2017 instructing him to withdraw the case against the accused.

In his ruling, the Magistrate, Ahmed Dasuki, held that the reasons given by Alhaji Adesina to withdraw the case were genuine and therefore granted his prayers advising the Mr. Baba to henceforth be of good conduct.