Defamation Case: Ilorin High Court To Deliver Rulings On Lack Of Jurisdiction, Bench Warrant Applications By Saraki, Gov Abdulrazaq’s Lawyers July 3

The defamation lawsuit filed by Kwara State government against Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki began at the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin on Wednesday with opening statements by counsels for the plaintiff and the defendant.

The former Senate President was represented by a team of lawyers led by Mr Jimoh Mumini SAN.

The defamation lawsuit was in reaction to Dr Saraki’s social media post on April 17, 2026, that was in response to an earlier press statement by the Kwara State Government which had attacked his reputation.

Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s main complaint was that by questioning his educational qualification in the social media post in question, it could result in a breach of the peace. 

Counsels for the state government asked Justice M. O. Folorunso who presided over the court session to issue an arrest warrant for Dr Saraki to ensure his physical presence in courtroom while the former Senate President’s lawyers however argued that the court process was improperly filed by the prosecution.

They also raised the issue of lack of jurisdiction while adding that Dr. Saraki’s posts on Facebook and X.com (formerly Twitter) which had given birth to the lawsuit were mere exercise of his freedom of speech and right of reply, as the leader of opposition party in the state.

Justice Folorunsho later adjourned the defamation case until July 3,2026, while noting that rulings will be delivered on the bench warrant and lack of jurisdiction applications.

In the meanwhile, Dr Saraki’s media office in a statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com has described the defamation case as a diversionary tactic while also accusing the ruling APC of making attempts to silence opposition.

‘We note that it is a recurring decimal for the Kwara Governor to seek to use the courts to harass and intimidate the leaders of opposition in the state any time they make any comment against the policies and actions of his administration. We believe that like his earlier efforts to abuse the judicial process to silence the opposition, this case will fall like a pack of badly arranged cards.

We note that the Kwara State government believes the alleged defamatory social media post deserves more attention than the issue of acute insecurity plaguing the state in which two of the three senatorial districts in the state have become a den of kidnappers, bandits, and insurgents.

Also, the case of 176 people kidnapped from Woro community in the northern part of the state who have been in captivity since early February is taking a back seat behind the issue of a social media post which the governor’s handlers believed was unpleasant to him

Today, we noticed that the governor and his handlers mobilised the media and their supporters to the court premises. We believe the energy and resources deployed to achieve that could have been better utilised as part of the resources to secure the release of the captives in the kidnappers’ den across the state.

We have mentioned these more sensitive alternatives that require the attention of Governor Abdulrazaq and his government instead of dissipating resources on the impact of words that he exchanged with the opposition leader in the state to demonstrate that the court case is just another diversionary tactic.

Dr Saraki continues to retain his confidence in the Nigerian judiciary and its ability to do justice to all parties, in all cases and situations. That is why his lawyers will also continue to defend his position and strongly put forward his case before the court on all matters, including this case arising from a social media post.

Dr Saraki hereby appeals to his supporters across the state and beyond to remain calm and law-abiding. The former Senate President will also want to assure all his supporters and members of the public that all these oppressive tactics aimed at intimidating and silencing him will come to nought. He will not keep quiet when there are issues of public interest that deserve his comment.

Dr Saraki will also want his supporters to know that Mr Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s oppressive tendencies are mere inconveniences that will soon blow away. This is because the administration has only 11 months to stay in office and the tendency that it represents will be totally eradicated in Kwara State by the people’ the statement added-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079,  08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you