The Kwara State Government has initiated a defamation lawsuit against former governor Abubakar Bukola Saraki at the State High Court, alleging he made defamatory statements about Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq. In response, Saraki urged the governor to prioritize state administration rather than expending resources on a case he described as a mere exercise of freedom of speech and right of reply as the opposition leader against Abdulrazaq's political party.
Details of the Allegation
According to a single-count charge signed by Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Senior Ibrahim, Saraki was accused of publishing and sharing a statement on or around April 17, 2026, on social media and newspapers containing insulting, derogatory, and abusive language. The charge claims Saraki alleged that Abdulrazaq is not educated up to secondary school level, knowing or ought to have known this to be false, but intentionally published the statements to insult or provoke the governor and state government, potentially causing a breakdown of public peace. This is said to be an offence punishable under Section 399 of the Penal Code, CAP. P4, Laws of Kwara State, 2006.
Court Proceedings
During proceedings, prosecution counsel R.O. Balogun requested a bench warrant against Saraki to compel his appearance and to discontinue the adjournment motion, as it was meant for arraignment. However, defendant's counsel Jimoh Mumeen (SAN) challenged the court's jurisdiction, arguing that the defendant was not properly served. Justice Mohammed Folorunso adjourned the matter for preliminary objection and arraignment until July 3, 2026.
Saraki's Response
In a statement, Saraki's Media Officer on Local Matters, Abdulkadir Abdulganiy, described the lawsuit as a recurring tactic by the governor to use courts to harass and intimidate opposition leaders whenever they comment on administration policies. He noted that the state government appears to prioritize the alleged defamatory social media post over acute insecurity plaguing the state, where two of three senatorial districts have become havens for kidnappers, bandits, and insurgents. He highlighted the case of 176 people kidnapped from Woro community in northern Kwara since early February, which he said is being overshadowed by the governor's displeasure over a social media post.
EFCC Testimony in Another Case
In a separate development, an investigator with the Ilorin zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Stanley Ujilibo, testified before the state high court that no part of the controversial N5.78 billion was directly released to former governor AbdulHamed AbdulFatai. Ujilibo spoke during the ongoing trial of the former governor for alleged diversion of N5.78 billion belonging to the State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB). He stated that neither AbdulFatai nor UBEC was a signatory to the KWSUBEB account. Under cross-examination by counsel to the first defendant, Mr. Abdulrasaq Gold (SAN), Ujilibo disclosed that the former governor approved a request for a N1 billion loan from the state's counterpart fund for KWSUBEB to pay workers' salaries, following a request by the second defendant, the former commissioner for Finance, contrary to the fund's original purpose. Ujilibo added that the EFCC did not investigate AbdulFatai's personal account because the petition did not link the diverted funds to it, and none of SUBEB's accounting officers were standing trial but were witnesses. Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar ruled that counsel was at liberty to recall witnesses for cross-examination and adjourned the trial until July 27.
