News

Journalists Detained For Allegedly Defaming Kwara Gov Get Bail

Published

4 years ago

October 19, 2022

Editor

An Ilorin Magistrate Court on Wednesday granted bail to two detained journalist siblings, Dare Akogun and Abdulrasheed Akogun, for allegedly defaming and inciting the public against the Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.

Magistrate Bio Saliu admitted the two journalists to a bail of N500,000 each and a surety each with landed property in Ilorin, among others requests.

The detained journalists were brought to court unchained around 10:15 am with sympathisers, colleagues and family members flooding the court premises.

There was a mild drama between the police prosecutor and the representative of the office of the State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice over the way and manner the case was taken over by the office of the Attorney General.

Representative of the office of Attorney General, Abdulmumeen Busari, had asked the court to grant him at least 24 hours to study the case, having just taken over the matter, to enable him be in good standing on the bail application.

Busari also said that it would be unfair on his part, if was denied the request because he needed to give a fair hearing in the case.

But Counsel to the defendants, Barrister C.N. Olaitan, opposed the submission saying, “I vehemently oppose that application asking for 24 hours to respond.

“The operative word in the content of their taking over the matter is to take over and continue. So it’s either they swim or sink with whatever action that had been taken. The CP has been duly served since Monday and the 48 hours have started running since then.

“On the face of the motion papers, today has been fixed for application of the bail to be heard so the application of the Attorney General is ill-conceived and brought in bad faith.”

He added, “On the issue of fair hearing cited by the representative of the Attorney General, it means opportunity should be given to both parties, and once opportunity has been given and a party refuses to take advantage of the opportunity, he can’t cry foul of being denied fair hearing.

“The liberty of the defendants is at stake and their application is to continue to incarcerate the suspects in prison custody. It’s their constitutional rights to receive the bail, so I urged the court to refuse the application of the office of the AG.”

The defendants’ counsel also said that the prosecution was duly served in the bail application and that their refusal to file any counter was an admission of all the deposition in the bail application.

He, therefore, asked the court to admit the defendants to bail on liberal ground.

Magistrate Bio in his ruling granted bail to the defendants and adjourned the case till November 23,2022 for further hearing.

It would be recalled that the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mallam Rafiu Ajakaye, through a petition to the Commissioner of Police, accused the duo of defamation and inciting the public against the government.

Ajakaye alleged that AbdulRasheed posted a comment on the popular WhatsApp platform, Kwara Commission, accusing the government of being most corrupt and of facilitating N15 million to prosecute the last election of the Kwara state council election of the Nigerian Union of Journalist.

The PUNCH noted that during the intervention of Kwara State Police Commissioner, Paul Odama, he advised that the two defendants should write apology letter to the governor but the duo claimed that the apology could be used against them both now and in the future by the government.

The defendants further claimed during the intervention that they have evidences to proof their claims, and were ready to press the charges against the state government; a development that made the police commissioner to order the prosecution of the case.

News

Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

5 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

10 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

11 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.