According to a news report from Vanguard, a Magistrate Court in Ilorin granted bail to Mr. Demola Akinyemi, the Kwara State Correspondent of Vanguard Newspaper, on Wednesday. This follows a case of alleged criminal conspiracy, defamation, and falsehood levelled against him by an Ilorin-based trader, Alhaja Mariam Babatunde Arolahun.

Alhaja Arolahun, a trader in the popular Oja-Tutun market, Ilorin, petitioned the police, alleging that Akinyemi engaged in “criminal conspiracy, defamation, and falsehood” over a publication in Vanguard's Online medium titled “Kwara market women threatens to protest naked over colleague's mysterious death.”

The story, published on January 30th, 2024, prompted representatives of the complainant to visit Akinyemi in his office in January 2024, after which it was agreed that the complainant's side of the story would be brought for subsequent publication. However, the complainant's representatives did not return until five months later, when a petition was written to the state police command, alleging defamation.

In said story, the nominal complainant allegedly had an altercation with another trader, Medinat, in the same Oja-Tuntun market, Ilorin, over a misunderstanding that erupted between the duo regarding a shop allocated to them by the authorities of Ilorin West local government, after which the co-trader later died.

Following the publication of the story, the complaint petitioned the police, resulting in Akinyemi being arraigned before the Magistrate Court in Ilorin on Wednesday.

During the court proceedings, the prosecution urged the court not to grant the defendant bail, citing ongoing investigations and the risk of him jumping bail. However, the defendant's counsels argued that the offences were minor and assured the court that Akinyemi would not jump bail.

Okafor said “bail is at the discretion of the court and should be used judiciously”.

He said the Police First Information Report (FIR ) with which the defendant was brought to court ” is a mere information and the defendant is innocent until proven otherwise by the court”.

He urged the court to grant Akinyemi bail in subtle manner.

Okafor also said that “refusal of grant the defendant bail will amount to pre-trial punishment which the law abhors” .

After listening to the submissions of both prosecution and the defendant’s counsel , the presiding magistrate granted Akinyemi bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum, one of which must be close relation to the defendant.

He later adjourned the case till May 20th for commencement of hearing.