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.

Oyelere Oyinloye     Noah Yusuf     Donatus Ejidike     Sodiya     Joana Nnazua Kolo     Olatunji Ibrahim     Labaeka     Abdulfatai Ahmed     Issa Manzuma     Olaiya Zuberu     Femi Ogunsola     Malete     Mary Arinde     Kolawole Bashirat     Monkey Pox     Shola Odetundun     Lotus Bank     Okin Group     Kwara State Television     Al-Hikmah Radio     Bolaji Nagode     April 11     Ejidongari     Ophthalmological Society Of Nigeria     Federal Polytechnic Offa     Makama Of Ilorin     Fatimah Abdulkadir     Bluenile Associates     Sarah Jubril     Kabir Shagaya     Shuaib Olarongbe     Suleiman Abubakar     Computer Based Test     Olayinka Olaogun     Yusuf Mubarak     The Herald     Yetunde Balogun     Olofa Of Offa     Isin     Akeem Lawal     United Nigeria Congress Party     Moses Salami     Ilorin Curfew     Olajumoke Monsura Gafar     Fatima Abolore Jimoh     Ahmed Idris Mohammed     Hamza Usman     Adisa Logun     Jumoke Gafar     Ezekiel Yissa Benjamin     Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     Mahmud Ayinla Giwa     Fatai Garuba Labaka     Sardauna     Yakubu Shaaba     Ronke Adeyemi     Dan Iya Of Ilorin     HICA     Mohammed Ibrahim     Quareeb Islamic Association     Shuaib Boni Aliyu     ARMTI     Ishaq Oloyede     Christopher Ayeni     Bankole Omisore     Ajidagba     GGDSS Pakata     Najim Yaasin     Gwanara     Voices Of Tomorrow     Ilorin General Hospital     Sulyman Abdulkareem     Ibrahim Taiwo     Mohammed Saidu     Oyun     Jare Olatundun     Jimoh Lambe Abdulkareem    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Femi Agbaje     Amusa Bello     IF-K     Obasanjo     Olaitan Adefila     Kwara TV     Gbadeyan Gbadura Yomi     Durbar     Curfew     Senate Presidency     Olomu     State Bureau Of Internal Revenue     Ilorin West     National Democratic Congress     Yaru     Umar Sanda Yusuf     Wahab Egbewole     Road Transport Employers Association Of Nigeria     Afusat Nike Ibrahim     Muhammed Mahe Abdulkadir     Aliyu Muyideen     Sanitation Exercise     IPSAS     Saliu Tunde Bello     Elekoyangan     Reuben Paraje     Wahab Isa     Jawondo     Funmilayo Braithwaite     Saadu Gbogbo Iwe     Fatai Garuba Labaka     Isiaka Saka Opobiyi     Garba Ayodele Wahab     Dunmade     Danhawa     Okedare     General Hospital     Crystal Corner Shops     Aisha Ahman Pategi     Harmony Holdings     Saadu Yusuf     Yoruba     Kisra     Benin Republic     Gbemi Saraki     Erubu Oba Zubair     Obayomi Azeez     Arca Santa     Ibrahim Kayode Adeyemi     Bayo Ajia     Abiodun Abdulkareem     Plat Technologies     Tafida     Roseline Oni Aremu     Umar Bayo Abdulwahab     Usman Rifun     Isiaka Oniwa     Aminu Ado Bayero     Paul Odama     International Public Sector Accounting Standards     Kayode Alabi     Marafan Shonga     SUBEB     Abegunde Goke     Saka Abimbola Isau     Kwara Polytechnic     Okanlawon Taiwo     Ilorin South Constituency     Kwara State Television     Government High School (GHS), Adeta     Bibire Ajape     Ibrahim Abiodun     Basic Education Certificate Examination     NULGE     Yusuf Abdulraheem     United Nigeria Airline     Tsaragi/Share