By Favour Raphael
A Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin has fixed July 22, 2026, for the arraignment of former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, over alleged defamatory statements against Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Justice M.O. Folorunsho fixed the date on Friday after dismissing Saraki’s preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case.
The judge ruled that the alleged offence is triable before the court and affirmed that it has the territorial jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
The Kwara State Government had instituted criminal defamation proceedings against Saraki over statements allegedly published on April 17, 2026, on social media and in newspapers.
According to the charge, Saraki allegedly made and circulated statements claiming that Governor AbdulRazaq did not attain secondary school education.
The prosecution alleged that the former Senate President knew or ought to have known the statements were false but published them with the intention of insulting and provoking the governor and the Kwara State Government, an action it said was capable of causing a breach of public peace.
The alleged offence is punishable under Section 399 of the Penal Code, Cap. P4, Laws of Kwara State, 2006.
Saraki’s counsel, Jimoh Mumini (SAN), had asked the court to dismiss the case, arguing that there was improper service, lack of jurisdiction and abuse of court process, among other grounds.
However, counsel to the Kwara State Government, Rafiu Balogun, urged the court to dismiss the application, describing it as frivolous and lacking merit.
In his ruling, Justice Folorunsho resolved all seven issues raised by the defence in favour of the prosecution and held that the criminal charge remains valid.
The court also ruled that Saraki’s physical presence was not required during the hearing of interlocutory applications, in line with the provisions of the law.
Justice Folorunsho further held that the request to postpone Saraki’s arraignment pending the determination of the application had become unnecessary.
The judge also dismissed claims that the case was politically motivated, stating that nothing in the charge sheet or the accompanying proof of evidence suggested political persecution.
Consequently, the court dismissed Saraki’s objection and ordered that he be arraigned on July 22, 2026.
