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.

Muyideen Ajani Bello     Al-Adaby     Toyin Olayinka Tejidini     Azeez Salawu     Kwara Basketball Association     Lai Mohammed     Olusola Saraki     Balogun-Ojomu     Tunji Folami     Abdul Jimoh Mohammed     Moses Salami     Sunset Workers     Neuropsychiatric Hospital     David Adesina     ASMAU PLAZA     JAAC     Sarkin Malamai     Yusuf Aiyedun     Saadatu Modibbo-Kawu     General Hospital     Samuel Adedoyin     Sulyman Age AbdulKareem     Ishola Abdullahi     Shehu Salau     Ali Ahmad     Rotimi Oyedepo     Dorcas Afeniforo     Muritala Awodun     Ibrahim Abikan     Abioye Bello     Trader Moni     Lucky Omoluwa     REO CAKES     Abdulrasaq Alaro     Trade Lenda SME Fair     Orisun Igbomina     Lola Ashiru     Bashirat Bola Bello     Kwara Politics     Biliaminu Aliu     Kwara Polytechnic     Elese Of Igbaja     Musa Yeketi     Magaji Nda     Baba Adini Of Kwara State     Mansurat Amuda-Kannike     Kamaldeen Gambari     Olatunji Bamgbola     Laduba     Abdulkadir Bolakale Sakariyah     Agor Market     AbdulRauf Keji     Ilorin West     Facebook     Idris Amosa Saidu     Centre For Community Empowerment And Poverty Eradication     Afin Descendants Union Of Odo-Owa     Kamaldeen Kehinde     Babajide Ajayi     Kwara-SAPZ Project     Simeon Sule Ajibola     Kayode Issa     Olaitan Adefila     Onilupeju Of Ilupeju     Sardauna Of Ilorin     Tafidan Kaiama     Okala Baba     Iliasu     Amos Sayo     Kwara Volleyball Association     Kolawole Bashirat     Ilofa     FERMA     Bashir Adigun     Nigerian Correctional Service     National Democratic Congress     NIPR    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Oko-Olowo     Muhammed Mahe Abdulkadir     Akorede     Apata Ajele Secondary School     Kwara State Council Of Chiefs     Maryam A. Garuba     Albert Ogunsola     Roheemat Hammed     KSIRS     Okin Biscuits     Afolabi-Oshatimehin Adenike Harriet     Victor Gbenga Yusuf     Ethical College     Mutawali     Egbewole     Lanre Aremu     Azeez Salawu     Niyi Ogundiran     Lafiagi     Kwara State Sports Commission     Gani Saadu     Matthew Babaoye     Amos Bajeh     Abdulsalam A. Yusuf     Harrison Osauwagboe     Mohammed Abduraheem     Ekiti     Abdulraheem Olesin     Osinbajo     Kwha.gov.ng     Paul Olawoore     Abdullah Janet Amudat     Baba Issa Awoye     Gurei     Lanre Badmus     BECE     Bluenile Associates     Haleeman Salman     Taofik Abdulkareem Babaita     Patigi Regatta     Cornelius Adebayo     Alumni Association Of The Federal Polytechnic Offa     Rebecca Bake     Rasheed Jimoh     Hassanat Bello     NaAllah     Sulu Babaita Isiaka     SARS     SSUCOEN     Mahmud Durosinlohun Atiku     Adijat Adebiyi     Firdaos Amasa     Kumbi Titilope     Olokoba Sulyman     Fatai Adeniyi Garba     Saad Omo Iya     Mustapha Olanipekun     Kwara Teaching Service Commission     Communication Network Support Services     Tsaragi-Share     Abdulraheem Yusuf     Share     Kwara State Internal Revenue Service     Lai Mohammed     Bature Bello     MINILS     KWAFFA     Hassan Saliu     Idiagbon     Samari     Quran     Kisra     Bolaji Nagode     Omupo     Olumide Daniel Ibitoye     International Public Sector Accounting Standards     Young Progressives Party