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Court Grants Detained Journalists, Ayatullahi, Jaji Bail
The two journalists were docked following a petition by the Rector of Kwara State Polytechnic
Ilorin, Kwara State– The Magistrate court sitting in Ilorin, on Wednesday, granted bail to two journalists: Editor-in-chief Salihu Ayatullahi and Managing Director Adisa-Jaji Azeez from The Informant247, an online news outlet, to the tune of N250,000, with two surety each in like sum.
The two journalists were docked following a petition by the Rector of Kwara State Polytechnic, Engineer Abdul Jimoh Muhammed.
Recalled Afrika Eyes earlier reported how the two journalists were detained on the order of Kwara Polytechnic Rector in connection with an investigative story published by Informant247 medium on February 2, 2024, alleging that the Kwara Polytechnic Rector made false claims about the institution’s financial status and commissioned shoddy, uncompleted projects.
The defendants were dragged before Magistrate Monisola Kamson on Wednesday on the alleged offences of criminal conspiracy, cyber stalking and injurious falsehood contrary to sections 27(1) B, 24(1)(B) of the Cybercrime (prohibition and prevention) act, 2015 and section 393 of the penal code.
However, Ayatullahi and Adisa-Jaji were later detained at the police headquarters in Ilorin and subsequently charged to court on Wednesday to face trial.
At the resumed proceedings, counsel to the defendants, Barrister AJ Edun, urged the court to grant his clients bail on liberal terms promising his reasons on the fact that they honoured police invitation when they were called and that they’re in bail from there.
The prosecutor, Abdullah Sanni, reminded the court of the motion exparte attached to the defendant charges, claiming granting them bail may jettison police effort towards arresting other defendant at large.
Magistrate Monisola Kamson, who presided over the matter however granted the defendants bail in two hundred and fifty thousand naira and two sureties each in which they must be resident within the court jurisdiction while was adjourned till 13th of this month.
Meanwhile, the chief editor and managing editor of The Informant247 had earlier approached the Federal High Court seeking protection of their fundamental human right to press freedom and liberty.
An advance copy of the process marked as Case No. FHC/IL/C5/14/2024 has been served on the Nigerian Police, Kwara State Command. The Commissioner of Police Kwara State, CP Victor Olaiya, OC in Charge of Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Cultism Section, and Rector of Kwara State Polytechnics Ilorin have been joined as first, second, and third respondents respectively in the mentioned case.
