A Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin has fixed July 22, 2026, for the arraignment of former Senate President Bukola Saraki over alleged criminal defamation of Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
The Kwara State Government instituted the suit, accusing Saraki of making and publishing defamatory statements about the governor.
According to the charge, Saraki allegedly published a statement on or about April 17, 2026, on social media and in newspapers claiming that Governor AbdulRazaq was not educated beyond secondary school level.
The prosecution alleged that the statement was false and was intentionally published to insult and provoke the governor and the Kwara State Government in a manner likely to cause a breach of public peace, contrary to Section 399 of the Penal Code, Cap. P4, Laws of Kwara State, 2006.
Saraki’s counsel, Jimoh Mumini (SAN), had filed a motion challenging the competence of the suit, raising seven grounds, including improper service, lack of jurisdiction and abuse of court process. He argued that the matter was not triable before the state High Court.
Adopting the written address on Thursday through his representative, T.A. Ahmed, the defence urged the court to dismiss the charge and decline jurisdiction.
“We pray the court to dismiss the charge before it. Looking at the position of our address, we urge the court to decline jurisdiction over the matter,” Ahmed submitted.
Responding, prosecution counsel Rafiu Balogun told the court that the state had filed a counter-affidavit on June 11, 2026, urging the court to dismiss what he described as a frivolous application.
In his ruling, Justice M.O. Folorunsho dismissed all seven objections raised by the defence, holding that the court has the jurisdiction to entertain the case.
“This court is vested with the territorial jurisdiction to hear this matter,” the judge ruled, adding that the charge of criminal defamation against Saraki remained valid.
On Saraki’s absence from court, Justice Folorunsho held that under Section 227(b) of the applicable law, the court could dispense with the defendant’s physical presence while determining interlocutory applications.
He also rejected the defence’s request to defer Saraki’s arraignment until after the determination of the preliminary objection, describing the application as having become overtaken by events.
The judge further ruled that the charge sheet and proof of evidence did not suggest that the case was politically motivated.
“An appraisal of the charge sheet and the accompanying proof of evidence does not in any way suggest that this is a politically motivated action,” he said.
Justice Folorunsho subsequently adjourned the matter until July 22, 2026, for Saraki’s arraignment.
