Court grants bail to detained journalists in Kwara

Justice Saliu Bio of the Kwara State Magistrate Court has granted two journalists, Dare and Abdulrasheed Akogun bail on charges of defamation and public incitement filed against them by the Kwara State Government.

Earlier during proceedings, the prosecuting counsel, Abdulmumeen Busari, had prayed the court to give an order empowering the state Attorney general to take over the case from the Nigerian Police.

Magistrate Bio, considering the prayer and argument by the prosecuting counsel, ruled that prosecutor from the Police withdrew appearance before the court and totally hand the case over to the Kwara State’s Attorney General.

In another prayer, the prosecuting counsel told the court to grant him twenty four hours to study the bail application and respond properly, submitting that the fair hearing deserved ample time.

Objecting the application, the defendant counsel Mr Nurain Olaitan, while opposing the application of the state counsel, argued that the alleged offence was bailable given that the accused have the constitutional rights to air their opinions and being that they had been remanded at the Mandala Correctional Centre, Ilorin.

Magistrate Bio also admitted seven pages affidavit application by father of the defendants, Mr Abdulganiyu Kunle Akogun, which indicated that the defendants would always make themselves available when demanded by the court for proceedings.

In his ruling, Magistrate Bio granted Dare and Abdulrasheed Akogun bail in the sum of Five hundred thousand Naira each and two sureties who must have landed property and domiciled in the city.

Correspondent Sola Rotimi reports that the case was thereby, adjourned till November 24, 2022.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor, Mallam Rafiu Ajakaye, had petitioned the Kwara State Commissioner of Police alleging that the accused, Dare and Abdulrasheed Akogun who are brothers, alleged that the Kwara State Government influenced the outcome of the last State Council Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ election with millions of Naira.