The political rivalry between former Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Kwara State government escalated on Wednesday as the state filed a criminal defamation suit against the former lawmaker over alleged comments concerning Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s educational qualifications.
The case, filed before the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin, accuses Saraki of making and circulating statements via social media and newspaper publications alleging that Governor AbdulRazaq did not complete secondary school education.
According to the state government, the statements were false, defamatory, and capable of inciting public unrest.
The one-count charge, filed by the Kwara State Ministry of Justice, alleges that Saraki’s comments contravened Section 399 of the Kwara State Penal Code, which criminalises defamatory acts likely to breach public peace.
The government maintained that the allegations were made without any factual basis and were intended to damage the governor’s reputation.
At the hearing on Wednesday, prosecution counsel Rafiu Balogun informed the court that the matter was scheduled for arraignment and urged the court to issue a bench warrant against Saraki for allegedly failing to appear despite being served with court processes.
Balogun also opposed an application for adjournment by the defence, arguing that the defendant’s presence was necessary for the proceedings to continue.
However, counsel to the former Senate President, Jimoh Mumini (SAN), challenged the competence of the suit, arguing that the Kwara State High Court lacked jurisdiction and that the matter ought to have been filed at the Federal High Court.
The defence also raised concerns over whether Saraki had been properly served with court documents.
After a two-hour recess, the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Folorunso, ruled that the defendant was entitled to seek an adjournment.
The court thereafter fixed July 3, 2026, for hearing of the preliminary objection challenging jurisdiction and for possible arraignment of the former Senate President.
The development marks a fresh escalation in the long-running political tension between Saraki’s camp and the administration of Governor AbdulRazaq.
Reacting, Saraki in a statement by Abdulkadir Abdulganiy, Press Officer on Local Matters, Abubakar Bukola Saraki Media Office, Abuja, said, “We note that it is a recurring decimal for the Kwara governor to seek to use the courts to harass and intimidate the leaders of opposition in the state any time they make any comment against the policies and actions of his administration. We believe that like his earlier efforts to abuse the judicial process to silence the opposition, this case will fall like a pack of badly arranged cards.
“We note that the Kwara State government believes the alleged defamatory social media post deserves more attention than the issue of acute insecurity plaguing the state in which two of the three senatorial districts in the state have become a den of kidnappers, bandits, and insurgents.
“Also, the case of 176 people kidnapped from Woro community in the northern part of the state who have been in captivity since early February is taking a back seat behind the issue of a social media post which the governor’s handlers believed was unpleasant to him
“Today, we noticed that the governor and his handlers mobilised the media and their supporters to the court premises. We believe the energy and resources deployed to achieve that could have been better utilised as part of the resources to secure the release of the captives in the kidnappers’ den across the state.
“We have mentioned these more sensitive alternatives that require the attention of Governor Abdulrazaq and his government instead of dissipating resources on the impact of words that he exchanged with the opposition leader in the state to demonstrate that the court case is just another diversionary tactic.
“Dr Saraki continues to retain his confidence in the Nigerian judiciary and its ability to do justice to all parties, in all cases and situations. That is why his lawyers will also continue to defend his position and strongly put forward his case before the court on all matters, including this case arising from a social media post.
“Dr Saraki hereby appeals to his supporters across the state and beyond to remain calm and law-abiding. The former Senate President will also want to assure all his supporters and members of the public that all these oppressive tactics aimed at intimidating and silencing him will come to nought. He will not keep quiet when there are issues of public interest that deserve his comment.
“Dr Saraki will also want his supporters to know that Mr Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s oppressive tendencies are mere inconveniences that will soon blow away. This is because the administration has only 11 months to stay in office and the tendency that it represents will be totally eradicated in Kwara State by the people.”
