Kwara Govt Files Criminal Defamation Suit Against Ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki Over Allegations Targeting Gov. AbdulRazaq’s Educational Qualifications

Ilorin, Kwara State– The Kwara State Government has instituted a criminal defamation suit against former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, at the Kwara State High Court, accusing him of making defamatory statements against Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, including allegations touching on the governor’s educational qualifications.

News Agency of Nigeria reports that Saraki is facing charges over alleged publications said to have been made on or about April 17, 2026, across social media platforms including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and in newspapers.

According to the charge filed by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Senior Ibrahim Sulyman, alongside the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Ayoola Idowu Akande, and Assistant Chief State Counsel, B.L. Abdulsalam, the former Senate President allegedly published and circulated statements claiming that Governor AbdulRazaq did not possess secondary school education qualifications.

The state government insisted that the publication was false, and argued that it was deliberately crafted and circulated in “insulting, derogatory and abusive language” with the intent to provoke the governor and the government of Kwara State.

Prosecutors further contended that the alleged publication was capable of disturbing public peace, citing Section 399 of the Penal Code, Cap. P4, Laws of Kwara State, 2006.

At the court session on Wednesday, prosecution counsel, R.O. Balogun, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for arraignment and urged the court to issue a bench warrant against Saraki over his absence.

Balogun argued that the defendant had been duly served and maintained that his legal representation in court was proof of awareness of the proceedings.

“The defendant’s counsel is in court appearing for him and he should be here. We are the prosecution and should be allowed to proceed. There is no valid reason given for his absence,” he told the court.

“We therefore pray the court to issue a bench warrant against him in line with Section 138.”

However, counsel to the defendant, Jimoh Mumini (SAN), challenged the competence of the court to hear the matter, arguing that jurisdiction properly lay with the Federal High Court rather than the Kwara State High Court.

He also questioned the adequacy of service of the charge, insisting that Saraki had not been properly served with the court processes.

Following arguments from both parties, Justice M.O. Folorunso adjourned proceedings after a two-hour recess to consider the submissions on jurisdiction and the request for adjournme

The court held that the defendant was entitled to seek an adjournment, and subsequently fixed July 3 for hearing of the preliminary objection and possible arraignment.

Afrika Eyes on October 13, 2026, reported that despite the worsening insecurity in Kwara State, the state government has rushed to the State High Court to file a case against Afrika Eyes publisher and investigative journalist Buhari Olanrewaju Ahmed, human rights activist Comrade Saliu Bolakale, and Kwara Take-It-Back coordinator Saidu Musa.

The suit, however, has stirred controversy after it was filed without a valid signature or date.

In July 2025,  the trio were arrested and detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Ilorin after they criticised the state government’s handling of a protest by concerned citizens.

Their arrest followed a complaint of defamation and cyberstalking allegedly filed by Abubakar Sadiq Buhari, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Social Investment.

However, Buhari Olanrewaju Ahmed and Saidu Musa were remanded on July 23, 2025, by a Kwara State Magistrates’ Court.

The case, with Charge No. KWS/259C/25, names the Kwara State Government as the prosecutor, and the three activists as defendants, facing four counts.

The, counsel to the defendants, Taofiq Olateju, condemned the government’s handling of the matter, saying it was flawed from inception.

He disclosed that an application had earlier been made under Section 302 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Kwara State, 2018, compelling the Attorney General and Or the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State to appear before the court and show cause why the charges should not be terminated against the defendants and case struck out.

According to him, the application was premised on the fact that the magistrate court lacks jurisdiction to hear and determine the allegations against his clients.

Olateju stated that while they were in court this morning, the state counsel representing the Kwara State Government came to serve his clients with a charge.

He said the case has not yet been assigned, so there is no need for them to appear before the court immediately. Nevertheless, they have been served and will take the appropriate legal steps.

According to Olateju, “With respect to that, we have been coming to court, despite the fact that they brought us to the magistrate court here, which lacks jurisdiction to hear and determine the matter. And we applied under Section 302 of the Administrative Criminal Justice Law of Kwaran State 2018, that the Attorney General of Kwaran State and Or Commissioner of Police,Kwara State should come and show cause why the case at the magistrate court should not be terminated against the defendants, because they are yet to do the needful. Knowing fully well that the magistrate court doesn’t have the power to hear and determine the allegation levied against the defendants.

“Fortunately, this morning while we were in court, the counsel representing kwara state government came to serve the defendants charge. The case has not been assigned, and no date for the next return date. Nonetheless, the defendants have been served with a charge, and we are going to do the needful.”

Count one, “That you SALIU BOLAKALE, BUHARI OLANREWAJU AHMED & SAIDU MUSA on or about 10th July, 2025, at Ilorin, Kwara State, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, conspired to make and publish as well as posted the following imputation concerning the duo of Honorable Alashi Obasanjo (SA Security) and Honorable Abubakar Saddiq Buhari (SA Social Investment) on the Whatsapp group platform named “KWARA COMMISSION” with over 700 members across the world, to wit ‘he drove the thugs who attacked the protesters and injured them, acting on orders from the Government House —simply why would because people were protesting against insecurity. an aide to the Kwara State Governor bring thugs to attack peaceful Even when an SA protesters— especially a security aide? pointed at one of the protesters” intending to harm or knowing or having reason to believe that it would harm the reputation of the duo of Honorable Alashi Obasanjo (SA Security) and Honorable Abubakar Saddiq Buhari (SA Social Investment) respectively, and that you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 97 of the Penal Code Law.

Count two, “That you SALIU BOLAKALE, BUHARI OLANREWAJU AHMED & SAIDU MUSA on or about 10th July, 2025, at Ilorin, Kwara State, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, made and published as well as posted the following imputation concerning the duo of Honorable Alashi Obasanjo (SA Security) and Honorable Abubakar Saddiq Buhari (SA Social Investment) on the Whatsapp group platform named “KWARA COMMISSION” with over 700 members across the world, to wit ‘he drove the thugs who attacked the protesters and injured them, acting on orders from the Government House —simply because people why would an aide to the were protesting against insecurity. Kwara State Governor bring thugs to attack peaceful protesters—Even when an SA pointed at one especially a security aide? of the protesters” intending to harm or knowing or having reason to believe that it would harm the reputation of the duo of Honorable Alashi Obasanjo (SA Security) and Honorable Abubakar Saddiq Buhari (SA Social Investment) respectively, and that you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 392 of the Penal Code Law.

Court three, “That you BUHARI OLANREWAJU AHMED A.K.A CROWN on or about 10th July, 2025, at Ilorin, Kwara State, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, made and published as well as posted the following imputation on a Whatsapp group platform named “KWARA COMMISSION” with over 700 members across the world, to wit ‘Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazag is clueless and heartless. The same things he blamed the previous government for are what he himself has been doing to suppress the voices of the oppressed citizens.” an act intending to cause or which is likely to cause a breach of the peace or disturb the public peace and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 114 of the Penal Code Law.

Count four, “That you SAIDU MUSA on or about 10th July, 2025, at Ilorin, Kwara State, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, made and published as well as posted the following imputation on a SAHARA REPORTERS platform, to wit ‘Thugs Linked To Kwara Governor’s Aides Attacked Us’: Protesters Speak After Assault During Peaceful Demonstration Against Insecurity.” an act intending to cause or which is likely to cause a breach of the peace or disturb the public peace and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 114 of the Penal Code Law.”

Meanwhile, on July 22, 2025,  the authorities in Kwara State have intensified their clampdown on dissenting voices as the state police command has arrested and detained an investigative journalist and two civic activists for condemning a violent attack on peaceful protesters in Ilorin.

It was gathered that journalist Buhari Olanrewaju Ahmed, along with two activists, including Musa Saidu Tsaragi, are currently being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Kwara State Police Command Headquarters in Ilorin.

The trio was detained after honouring a police invitation on Tuesday.

Afrika Eyes learnt that the journalist and the activists were detained after the Special Adviser to Kwara State Governor on Social Investment, Sadiq Buhari, filed charges against them for alleged defamation and cybercrime.

This move is an attempt to punish them for speaking out against the government-backed assault on protesters.