Kwara: Defendants Seek Dismissal Of Defamation Lawsuit Filed By Gov AbculRazaq’s Aide…Case Adjourned Until April 15

The defamation trial against  the Mandate International Publications Nigeria Limited, Publisher of the  National Pilot Newspaper continued in Ilorin,  the Kwara state capital on Monday.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the respondents are the Managing Director, National Pilot Newspaper, Alhaji Billy Adedamola and  a reporter,  Mr Ahmed Ajikobi

 During the court session on Monday, the defendants’ lawyer , Mohammed  Abdulahi cited lack of jurisdiction in asking  the court (a revenue court)  to dismiss the  lawsuit while also adding that the petitioner had no locus standi to institute the lawsuit in question in the first place.

Recall that the defendants had appeared  before the revenue court in February 2024 and have since faced charges bordering on  defamation , criminal conspiracy and others.

This was sequel to the  direct criminal complaint made by Governor  AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s Senior Special Assistant on New Media, Mr Olayinka Fafoluyi.

He had  alleged ‘Offences of Criminal Conspiracy, Inciting Public Disturbance, Injurious Falsehood, Criminal Defamation and Cyber Stalking,  which are contrary to the Provisions of Section 97, 114, 393 and 392 of Penal Code Law and Section 27 and 24 of Cyber Crimes (Prohibition and Prevention ETC) Act 2015.

The petitioner had referred to the newspaper’s online publications of May 15 and October 16, 2023, which , he  noted,were injurious to  Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and his family.

While arguing on a notice of preliminary objection filed before the court, on Monday ,dated 15th January 2024, Mohammed Abdulahi prayed ‘the court to refuse hearing the direct criminal complaint noting that it is civil in nature by its contents and filed without due process’.

Abdullahi also asked the court not  to entertain the case because  of lack of jurisdiction.

He also submitted  that the complainant had filed a counter affidavit  a few hours before the court session began on Monday and urged the court to disregard  this for being  allegedly ‘watery,  devoid of  substance and not relevant  to the issue at hand’.

Citing paragraph 4.14 of the counter affidavit filed by the complainant, Abdulahi  told the court that the paragraph in question ‘was so injurious to the case of the complainant and somewhat  support the application we had filed’ urging the court to bring the case to an end.

Corroborating the counsel’s submission, O.M Owonishola, who also appeared for the National Pilot Newspaper, cited paragraph 4.3 of the counter affidavit and said the submission of the complainant was ‘misleading’ as the case was not brought under relevant provision of the law.

The  judge,  who presided over the court session, later adjourned the case until April 15,2024 , for ruling on jurisdiction in the case-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 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you