A Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo on Monday ordered the remand of an Islamic cleric, Jamiu Adeguwa, in the custody of the Zone 11 Police Command over alleged defamatory statements made on social media.
The presiding judge, Justice Suleiman Hassan, directed that the defendant remain in police custody pending the hearing and determination of a formal bail application scheduled for June 26.
Adeguwa, who was arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on defamation, pleaded not guilty to the allegation preferred against him.
The police prosecutor, Mr J. Famuyin, told the court that the defendant allegedly committed the offence between July 4 and July 31, 2022, within the Osogbo metropolis.
Famuyin alleged that Adeguwa transmitted verbal and photographic messages through his social media platform, identified as the Al-Madrasatu Wahabiya page.
According to the prosecutor, “the defendant knowingly published false messages that were injurious and offensive to the character and reputation of the complainant”.
He told the court that the alleged act contravened sections 24(1)(a) and (b), as well as Section 24(2)(a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
Counsel to the defendant, Mr Oladayo Ogungbe, urged the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms, arguing that the cleric was entitled to enjoy his liberty pending trial.
The prosecution opposed the oral bail application and prayed the court to order that the defendant be remanded at the Ilesa Correctional Centre while awaiting the hearing of the bail request.
In his ruling, Justice Hassan declined the oral application and ordered that Adeguwa be remanded in the custody of the Zone 11 Police Command.
The matter was subsequently adjourned until June 26 for hearing of the formal bail application.
