Court sentences journalists to 5 months imprisonment over libelous publication
A Magistrate Court sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital has sentenced two journalists to five months imprisonment or a fine of 100,000 each.
The two journalists; Gidado Shuiab and Alfred Oluyemi were sentenced on two-count charge of conspiracy and defamation of character based on a petition filed by Hillcrest Agro-Allied Industries Limited, Amberi village in Kwara State.
The duo are Editor and Correspondent of News Digest, an online news medium.
Senior Magistrate A.S Muhammed stated that, the ruling on the case with file number MCIA/674C/2019 was in connection with his reflection on the provisions of Criminal Justice Law (2018), as well as section 417(2)d of the Kwara State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2018.
DAILY POST learnt on Thursday that the company wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State over alleged libelous publication tagged 'Kwara Factory where Indian hemp smoking is legalised' published on the 26th March 2018 by the two defendants.
The publication was described as malicious and character assassination aimed at denting the reputation of the company.
The Kwara State Police Command, through sergeant Ayodele, the police officer attached to the State Criminal Investigation and intelligence department (CIID) upon investigation, prosecuted the duo owing to their acknowledgement and admissibility of the publication with no substantial evidence.
Fernandez Raheem, the technical Assistant to the MD/CEO of the company while speaking with DAILY POST on Thursday noted that the company is not interested to witch hunt, harass or intimidate any person, group of persons but to clear the name of the company that it does not engage in illegal dealings.
He added that the court on the 7th February 2023, sentenced the duo.
He said, “This is not to witch hunt, harass or intimidate any person, group of persons
or entity.
“It was borne out of the desire to correct the malicious damage the said publication
has created, and for the sake of emphasis that Hillcrest does not, and will never engage in any Illegal venture, now, or in the nearest future”.
But, the counsel to the two journalists, Ibraheem Gambari when contacted on Thursday, added that the duo have the right to appeal the judgement.
He added that he has been studying the judgement.
He said, “The young journalists have the right of appeal and efforts are on top gear towards exercising that constitutional right.
“We are studying the judgement right now and will do the needful soonest.
“But for the delay in obtaining the Certified True Copy of the Judgement due to some administrative bottlenecks in the court's registry, the notice of appeal would have been filed by now. Our clients have robust confidence in the merit of the appeal. Especially when you consider two fundamental and unassailable points”.
Cloud Tag: What's trending
Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.
Sa\'adu Salau Akanbi-Oke Third Estate Lanre Aremu Shaykh Luqman Jimoh Olawuyi Lai Gobir Aro Yahaya Tunde Saad Yoonus Lawal Saliu Ajibola Ajia Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Oniyangi Kunle Sulaiman ASKOMP Mohammed Abdulahi Abiodun Oyedepo Abdulganiyu Oladosu Bola Ahmed Tinubu Mukhtar Shagaya Jumoke F. Ajao Amada Jidda Radio Kwara Adesina Simon Sodiya Yekeen Alabi Ndakene Olokoba Sulyman Abdulganiyu Salahudeen Clara Nwachukwu Bolakale Saka Kwara 2019 Oluranti Idowu Yakubu Mohammed Abdullahi Wole Oke Agor Michael Ologundea Forgo Battery Rasaq Jimoh Monkey Pox Afeyin-Olukuta Oloyede Yakub Ali-Agan Haashim Initiative For Community Advancement Onilu Raliat Islamic Foundation Wakilin Mata Lafiagi Aliyu Umar Lukman Oyebanji Fagbemi Donatus Ejidike Abubakar Abdulraheem Isa Aremu NAWOJ Sulyman Tejidini Sardauna Of Ilorin Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu Halidu Danbaba Afetu Of Alabe Iliasu Jumoke Monsura Gafar Arandun Ahmed Saidu Rufai Tunji Moronfoye AbdulRasaq Abdulmajeed Alaro Abioye Bello Balogun Fulani John Obuh Harmony Holdings Isau Lateef Fagbemi Al-Hikmah University Demola Banu Suleiman Mora Omar Ahmad Uthman Henry Olaosebikan Abdullateef Abdussalam Ojo Fadumila CUTI Gwanara

