BREAKING: Kwara Court Grants N2m Bail To Investigative Journalist, Two Activists Despite Government Opposition

Ilorin, Kwara State— The kwara state High Court, sitting in Ilorin has granted bail to investigative journalist and publisher of Afrika Eyes, Buhari Olanrewaju Ahmed, also known as Crown, alongside two activists, Comrade Saliu Bolakale and Comrade Saidu Musa Tsaragi, in the sum of N2 million each, despite stiff opposition from the Kwara State Government.

The trio is facing prosecution over allegations bordering on criminal defamation, injurious falsehood, and conduct likely to breach public peace.

They were arraigned before the court on Thursday, where they appeared voluntarily to face the charges filed against them by the state government.

Following their arraignment, the court proceeded to hear and determine their bail application.

Counsel to the defendants, Taofiq Olateju, urged the court to grant bail on liberal terms, arguing that the case were not capital offences and that the defendants had demonstrated willingness to submit themselves to the judicial process.

In a bench ruling delivered after hearing submissions from both parties, the presiding judge, Hon. Justice Umar Zikki Jubril, granted the defendants bail, emphasising the need to uphold justice and fairness.

Justice Jubril ruled that each defendant must meet bail conditions including a bond of N2 million and two credible sureties with verifiable addresses within the court’s jurisdiction.

Despite the prosecution’s objection, the court maintained that granting bail under liberal conditions was in the interest of justice.

The case has been adjourned until July 7, 2026, for further hearing.

Meanwhile on December 10, 2025, Afrika Eyes reported that the Kwara State High Court has refused an application for a bench warrant sought by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) on behalf of Abubakar Sadiq Buhari, the Special Adviser to the Kwara State Governor on Social Investment, in a case involving Ahmed and two activists, Bolakale and Musa.

The three are facing allegations of defamation and injurious falsehood after they publicly condemned the violent attack on peaceful protesters in Ilorin.

Drama unfolded in the courtroom when the Director of Public Prosecution Kwara State Ministry of Justice, Mr. Ayoola Idowu Akande, insisted that the defendants had been duly served with court processes and should therefore be arrested for failing to appear.

However, the charge purportedly served on the journalist and activists contained no court name, no suit number, and no hearing date — a fundamental defect that rendered the service invalid.

Despite the DPP’s insistence, defense counsel Olateju, who was in court for another matter, rose to announce his appearance and challenged the prosecution’s claim.

Olateju told the court that what the defendants received was “a charge that bears no date or even indicating the court handling the matter. The the application for bench warrant against the defendants is an ambush to keep them behind the bar which will occasion a miscarriage of justice.”

While delivering his ruling, the judge — agreed that there was no logical way for the journalist and activists to know where or when to appear since the prosecution failed to include basic details on the charge sheet.

The court further held that the prosecution had not demonstrated that proper service was carried out, and therefore the request for a bench warrant was unjustified.

In a ruling that countered the prosecution’s move to detain the defendants, the court dismissed and refused the DPP’s application for a bench warrant to arrest and remand Buhari Olanrewaju Ahmed, Comrade Saliu Bolakale, and Saidu Musa.

The DPP also confirmed later in court that the court has done justice in refusing his application after the ruling was delivered. In his words “this is justice.”

On October 13, 2025, Afrika Eyes reported the Kwara State Magistrate Court sitting in Ilorin has struck out the defamation and cyberstalking case filed Ahmed along with two activists — Comrade Bolakale and Musa.

This was after the state government was accused of attempting to abuse court processes by seeking an adjournment despite having filed the same case at the State High Court.

The prosecutor representing the Kwara State Government, Supo Mathew, on Monday, urged Magistrate Jimada to adjourn the matter for further hearing, even though the magistrate court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain and determine the allegations against the defendants.

Reacting to the prosecutor’s submission, counsel to the defendants, Taofiq Olateju, argued that the prosecution’s actions amounted to a clear case of abuse of court processes.

He reminded the court that an earlier application had been made under Section 302 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) of Kwara State, 2018, compelling the Attorney General and/or the Commissioner of Police to appear before the court and show cause why the charges should not be dismissed.

Olateju stressed that it was wrong for the government to duplicate charges in two different courts simultaneously, describing the move as an attempt to intimidate and frustrate the defendants.

After listening to the arguments, Magistrate Jimada agreed with the defence counsel and ruled that since the same case had already been filed before the Kwara State High Court, the magistrate court could no longer entertain it.

However, he consequently struck out the case, citing lack of jurisdiction and the need to avoid duplication of proceedings.

Speaking to journalists after the ruling, Olateju commended Magistrate Jimada for his courage and commitment to upholding justice despite political pressure.

He accused the Kwara State Government of wasting taxpayers’ money on frivolous and vindictive cases meant to silence journalists and human rights activists.

Olateju praised the court for standing on the side of justice and fairness, describing the ruling as a victory for press freedom and the rule of law.

He further expressed hope that the government would learn from the outcome and desist from using state resources to persecute citizens who hold dissenting views.

“We appreciate the court for its uprightness and pray that God continues to strengthen Magistrate Jimada for allowing justice to prevail,” Olateju said.