The Chief Press Secretary to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, on Monday, urged residents to disregard a story that his principal is behind the trial of a Muslim cleric, Sheikh Abdulrazaq Solihudeen.

Daily Trust reports that the cleric was seen in a viral video making verbal attacks against Senator Suleiman Ajadi, the former chairman of the committee on the sales of government property.

During the hearing at an area court in Ilorin on Monday, both parties were advised to settle the matter amicably outside of court, especially considering the spirit of Ramadan, and the case was adjourned to May 29, 2024.

The spokesman said the cleric’s video showed opposition to the state government’s efforts to ensure accountability in the sales of public property, citing issues like proper remittances to the treasury and adherence to due process.

He emphasised that neither the governor nor the state government had prior knowledge of the video until it circulated online, making it implausible for them to be behind the cleric’s trial.

He attributed the spread of the false news to individuals aiming to sow discord in the state for political motives.

The governor, he stated, respected the rights of citizens to seek lawful redress but condemned actions that incited hatred or promoted self-help under any pretext.