Court sentences journalists to 5 months imprisonment over libelous publication

Date: 2023-03-31

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”.

Source

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Adedeji Onimago     Ghali Muhammed     NTA Ilorin     Abdullahi G. Mohammad     Lawan     Labaeka     Yusuf Zulu-Gambari     COEASU     Mohammed Tunde-Jimoh     Bilikisu Oniyangi     Valsolar Consultoria     John Olobayo     Fatai Olodo     Olaitan Buraimoh     Ali Ahmad     Bibire Ajape     Omotoso     Umar Bayo Abdulwahab     Femi Oladiji     Sulu Babaita Isiaka     George Innih     Surajudeen Akanbi     Lanre Issa Onilu     Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa     Afonja Descendants Union     Aliyu Kora Sabi     Abdulraufu Mustapha     Zara Umar     KW-GIS     Baba Issa Awoye     Tafida Of Ilorin     Kwara State Council Of Chiefs     Siraj Oyewale     Yahaya Muhammad     Segun Adeniyi     Lateef Alagbonsi     Gwanara     Adeniyi Ojo     Bolakale Saka     Adebara     Magaji Nda     Kupchi Hosea Maxwell     Kayode Bankole     Gurei     Baba Idris     Ilorin Emirate Stakeholders Forum     Muyideen Ajani Bello     Kwara Metro Park     Babaita     Paul Olawoore     Folajimi Aleshinloye     Demola Banu     Savannah Centre For Diplomacy, Democracy And Development     Aliyu Umar     Jimoh Bashir     Ishaq Oloyede     Ahmed Mohammed Rifun     Tafida Of Kaiama     Mike Omotosho     Societe Generale Bank Of Nigeria     Isiaka Danmeromu     Vasolar Consortium     Elesie Of Esie     Ridwan Agboola     Kwara 2019     Oba Abdulkadir La\'aro     Kudirat Arinola Lawal     Muhammadu Gobir     Ramat Oganija     Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency     Aliyu U. Tilde     Abdulmajeed Wahab     Alapansapa     Ahmad Olayiwola Kamaldeen     Abatemi-Usman     Amuda Bembe     Abdulquawiy Olododo    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Alao Ayotunde     Ahmad Olayiwola Kamaldeen     Share     Umar Danladi Shero     Islamic Development Bank     Kehinde Baale     Razaq Ayobami Akanbi     Lukman Adeloyin     Demola Banu     AbdulHakeem Ajibola Akanbi     Asa LGEA School     Onilorin Of Ilorin     Ilorin Likeminds Foundation     Olokoba Abdullahi Ayinla     Sulyman Tejidini     Lanre Jimoh     Sidikat Akaje     Www.Kwarareports.com     Maryam A. Garuba     Akanbi-Oke     Shaykh Luqman Jimoh     Monthly Sanitation     Agboola Babatunde     Siddiq Adebayo Idowu Salawu     Split Diamond Interchange     Suleiman Ajadi     Idris Amosa Oladipo Saidu     Mohammed Lawal     Arik     AbdulGafar Tosho     Abdul Jimoh Mohammed     Galadiman Ngeri     Yakub Lai Gobir     Kawu Baraje     Abubakar Abdulraheem     Ope Saraki     High Court     April 11     Abdulrauf Aliyu     Amos Justus Sayo     Suleiman Mora Omar     Kwara NIPR     Ayedun     Abiodun Oyedepo     Ijagbo Health Centre     Oluwole Dupe     Bashir Adigun     TESCOM 2025     Mohammed Ghali Alaaya     Talaka Parapo     Yusuf Amuda Abubakar     Egbewole     Saadatu Modibbo-Kawu     Sai Kayi     Olanrewju Okanlawon Musa     Abubakar Suleiman     Owo Isowo     Mohammed Lawal Bagega     Oke-Oyi     Kawu     Amos Bajeh     Ophthalmological Society Of Nigeria     Lawyers Unite Against Corruption     Arandun     University Road     Diagnostic Centre     Aminat Omodara     Ndama Al-hassan     Kayode Oyin Zubair     Olayinka Olaogun     Haliru Yahaya     Sunday Fagbemi     United Nigeria Congress Party     Zainab Abass     Ibrahim Gambari     Abdulkarim Adisa     John Dara