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.

Public Holiday     Bilikisu Gambari     Alikinla     Nigeria Computer Society     Yusuf Olaolu Ali     Saka Isau     Baaziki Sulaiman     Rotimi Samuel Olujide     Unilorin     Abdulfatai Ahmed     IHS Towers     Moshood Kashimawo Abiola     Young Progressives Party     Olayinka Jelili Yusuf     Babajide Ajayi     Matthew Babaoye     Binta Abubakar Mora     Sulyman Atolagbe Alege     Idi-Ape     Kwara State Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations     Lawan     Tsaragi-Share     Fatima Abolore Jimoh     Adijat Adebiyi     Ilorin Water Reticulation     Shoprite     Erin-ile     Gbadeyan Gbadura Yomi     Oyedun Juliana Funke     Elerinjare-Ibobo     Emir Of Lafiagi     Abiodun Musa Aibinu     IDPU     Kwara-SAPZ Project     Afolabi-Oshatimehin     Alfa Modibbo Belgore     Saliu Ajia     Kwarareports.com     Kola Adesina     Hijab     Prince Mahe Abdulkadir     Adedayo Yusuf Abdulkareem     Chief Imam Of Omu-Aran     Ilorin Innovation Hub     Ibrahim Oniye     Tunde Mukaila Mustapha     Abdulkadri Ahmad Alaiye     Tunji Ajanaku     YAKOOYO     Lithium     Obayomi Azeez     Shehu Salau     Gurei     Oyawoye     Abubakar Lah     Femtech     Esuwoye     Sayomi     Haliru Dantoro     CBT     Centre For Community Empowerment And Poverty Eradication     Medinat Folorunsho Salman     Olofa Of Offa     Henry Olaosebikan     Baakini     Ilorin     Oluwarotimi Boluwatife Adenike     Kolawole Bashirat     Mujtabah Bature     Omu Aran     Okin High School     Sola Saraki University     Justina Oha     Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu     Oro Grammar School Old Students Association     General Hospital, Ilorin     KW-GIS    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Aliyu Salihu     Shonga     United Nigeria Congress Party     AGF Abdulrazaq     Babatunde Ajeigbe     Iyaloja-General     Ahmed \'Lateef     Olupako Of Share     Abiodun Oyedepo     Oloruntoyosi Thomas     Ajeigbe     Gbajabiamila     Tafida     Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq     Talaka Parapo     Toun Okewale-Sonaiya     Kola Bukoye     Alaro     Olupako     Alumni Association Of The Federal Polytechnic Offa     Kola Ologbondiyan     Dan-Kazeem     Dasuki Belgore     Ope Saraki     Abdulrauf Aliyu     YAKOOYO     Ahmad Belgore     Ahmed Saidu Rufai     Makama Of Ilorin     Millennium Development Goals     LEAH Charity Foundation     NURTW     Erin-ile     Ahmad Ali     Ilorin Muslim Community     Mahfouz Adedimeji     A.O. Belgore     Olabimpe Olani     Balogun Ajikobi     RTEAN     Jimoh Bashir     Yusuf Ibitokun Sherifat     Clement Yomi Adeboye     Owode Market     Gbugbu     Suleiman Mora Omar     Onilorin Of Ilorin     Halimah Perogi     Yusuf Abdulwahab     Haashim Initiative For Community Advancement     Ahmad Olanrewaju Belgore     Sunday Popo-Ola     Taofeek Ibraheem     AbdulGafar Tosho     Ilorin Emirate Stakeholders Forum     Dan Iya Of Ilorin     Hussein Oloyede     Alaiye     Government Girls’ Day Secondary School Pakata     Folaranmi Aro     Ishola Balogun Fulani     Sheriff Shagaya     Ayekale     Mashood Abdulrafiu Agboola     Musbau A. Akanji     Smart School     Oniwa     Taofik Abdulkareem Babaita     Ramadhan     Alabe     Olohungbebe     Islamiya Abdulraheem     Salake     Amuda Bembe     Coalition Of Kwara North Groups     Christopher Tunji Ayeni     Oluronke Adeyemi