A high court sitting in Ilorin has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a certain Adekunle Oluwafemi, being prosecuted for alleged criminal defamation against Governor Abdulrahaman Abdulrazaq of kwara State.
The development occured on Thursday after the defendant failed to be present at the trial before Hon. Justice I. A. Yusuf of Kwara State High Court sitting at Ilorin.
According to court details on the matter, the allegations against Oluwafemi borders on injurious falsehood, criminal defamation and false evidence against Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara state.
The offenses against Oluwafemi was under Sections 391, 393 and 158(1) of the Penal Code Law, CAP. P4, Laws of Kwara State 2007.
The Attorney General of Kwara State, Senior Ibrahim Sulyman Esq., led other State Counsels in the Kwara State Ministry of Justice to appear for the people of Kwara State before the above mentioned Court.
In the two Count charge signed by the Attorney General himself, it was alleged that on or about March 7, 2019 at Ilorin within the jurisdiction of the Court, the defendant said and produced by mechanical means, false statement that Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq did not sit for West African Examination Council (WAEC) School Certificate and was therefore not issued with WAEC School Certificate.
The charge said that the statement is injurious to the reputation of the Governor and his political party; All Progressives Congress (APC), punishable under Section 393 of the Penal Code.
The second Count of the charge is that the Defendant in Suit No. KWS/73/2019 deposed to false evidence against the person of Governor of Kwara State, punishable under Section 158 (1) of the Penal Code.
The Attorney General informed the Court that the Defendant is evading service of the Charge against him as he has refused to honour police invitations and phone calls from the Ministry of Justice.
The AG prayed His Lordship for the issuance of bench warrant to compel the Defendant to be in court at the next adjourned date.
His Lordship, Justice I. A. Yusuf granted the prayer of the prosecution for the arrest and production of the Defendant at the next adjourned date. Case adjourned to Wednesday, 4th August, 2022 for arraignment of the Defendant.