Kwara court grants bail to two journalists arraigned for defamation

A Magistrate’s Court in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, on Wednesday granted bail to two online journalists of Informant247 newspaper for allegedly publishing injurious reports against the rector of the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Abdul Jimoh Muhammed.

The Kwara State Police Command docked the two journalists of the Ilorin-based online media.

According to the Police First Information Report, FIR, the rector forwarded a petition to the Commissioner of Police against journalists Adisa Jaji Azeez and Saliu Ayatullahi, along with the duo of Soliu Sola Taofeek and Abdulrahman Taiye Damilola, who are now at large, accusing them of writing a report injurious to the rector’s reputation and his hard-earned career standing.

Counsel to the defendants, Barrister Edun, urged the court to grant his clients bail on liberal terms, citing that the defendants were invited by the police and they honoured the force, saying they would all be available to stand their trials.

The prosecutor, Abdullah Sanni, on his part, reminded the court of the ex parte motion attached to the FIR, claiming that granting the defendants may jeopardise the police’s efforts to arrest those who are at large.

The trial magistrate, Monisola Kamson, who presided over the matter, however, granted the defendants bail to the tune of N250,000 and two sureties each while the matter was adjourned until February 13, 2024.