An area court sitting in Ilọrin, Kwara State, has ordered the arrest of Alfa Saheed Shittu, a popular social media Islamic cleric, over alleged defamation by a group, Association of Proud Sons and Daughters of Ilorin (Ogo Ilorin).

The court gave the order following a request of a complainant over his (Shittu) alleged refusal to appear in court over the alleged accusation.

According to a complaint filed by the mufti (Ogo Ilọrin), the accused, described as a social media influential/blogger who operates under the page name, SAVE YOUR SOUL TV and SAHEED SHITTU on Facebook, used his social media handles to defame many notable Islamic scholars of Ilorin emirate and others.

The charge sheet reads in part: “The defendant some time in 2023 made a video wherein he maliciously insulted, abüsed, bullied, harassed and intimidate the Emir of Ilorin and the Chief Imam of Ilorin, to which they said the video went viral and generated a lot of annoyance, inconveniences and provocation among the youths of Ilorin Emirate and therefore amounted to inciting of disturbance of public peace in Ilorin Emirate.

“The defendant has also made several videos via his social media handles wherein he defamed and intimidated Alhaji Adio Muritada Baban Bariga, the President of OGO ILORIN, by calling him unprintable names and which has ridiculed him in the society as many people believe the defamatory statement made against his personality till date.”

During the proceedings, the accused (Shittu) was not in court and his lawyers were not also around to explain the development.

As a result of the development, the Judge, Sunday Adeniyi, ordered his (Shittu) arrest by the police for disobeying court and adjourned the case to March 6, 2024.