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.
Kwara State Geographic Information Service Abdulwaheed Musa Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq Kayode Bankole KwaraLearn Halimah Perogi Press Release Abdullah Janet Amudat Funke Adedoyin Otunba Taiwo Joseph Olaiya Victor Mobolaji Lukman Adeloyin Doyin Awoyale Wahab Abayawo Okin Malt Veterinary Teaching Hospital Osi Abikan Wahab Agbaje Lotus Bank Ohoro Of Shao Samari Asa LGEA School Mahmud Ayinla Giwa Mufti Of Ilorin Lateef Alagbonsi Musa Abdullahi College Of Education Ahmed \'Lateef Owo Arugbo Oba David Oyerinola Adedunmoye Oko Erin Quran Share/Tsaragi A.O. Belgore Salihu Jibril Garbi Olabanji Orilonishe Olayinka Are Women Radio Code Of Conduct Bureau Titus Ashaolu Muritala Awodun Saidu Yaro Musa Shehu Adaramaja Hikmah AbdulKareem Oladimeji Thompson Senate Presidency Magaji Are ENetSuD Femi Agbaje Patigi Regatta Adeniyi Ojo Yusuf Olaolu Ali Sherif Shagaya Damilola Yusuf College Of Health Sadiq Umar Rabiu Kwankwaso Abdulquowiyu Olododo Tunji Olawuyi Tricycle Owners Association Of Nigeria Share-Tsaragi Zubair Folorunsho Erubu Yekeen Alabi Isiaka Abdulrazak Sidikat Akaje March 18 Musa Yeketi David Oyedepo Atiku Abubakar Okedare Bluenile Associates Mufutau Olatinwo Olaoye B. Felix Face Masks Abdulrasheed Na\'Allah Yusuf Zulu-Gambari

