A Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, yesterday, remanded two men in prison for allegedly defaming the newly inaugurated Speaker of the state, Adewale Egbedun.
The defendants, Ajibola Oluwasegun Fawale, 34, and Ajiboye Babatunde, 28, were arraigned by the state Police Command.
The duo were arraigned on a two count-charge bordering on publication of defamatory content on social media.
Fawale and Babatunde were accused of posting on social media that Egbedun was a fraudster, and declared wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FIB) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
They allegedly committed the offence with others said to be at large on June 2, 2023, at about 7:00a.m. in Osogbo.
Part of the charge read: “That you, Ajibola Oluwasegun Fawale and Ajiboye Babatunde and others now at large, on or about June 2, 2023, at about 7:00a.m. at Osogbo, Osun State in the Osogbo Magisterial District, did among yourselves commit offence to wit- Publication of Defamatory of Character Matter, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 517 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. If laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
Their counsels Oluwabusayo Ebo and Taiwo Awokunle, while moving their oral bail applications separately urged the court to grant them bail in liberal terms.
They assured the court that they have reliable persons to stand for their sureties and that they would be available to stand their trial .
However, the police prosecutor, John Idoko, objected to the oral application, arguing that the defendants would escape and that they would tamper with police evidence if released on bail.
The defendants’ counsel further urged the court to discountenance the grounds of objections of the prosecutor and described them as misconceived and baseless constitutionally.
They stated that their clients made themselves available at the police station upon invitation and that they would not run away if granted bail.
After hearing from the counsel, Chief Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara, ordered that the defendants be remanded in correctional facility and adjourned to June 9, 2023, for ruling on their bail applications.
