…Fails To Provide Evidence on Defamation Allegations.
The Magistrate Court sitting in Ilorin has struck out the criminal conspiracy and defamation case brought against The Informant247 journalists by Kwara State Polytechnic and the Nigerian Police after 11 months of legal battle.Magistrate Adebayo Qudus dismissed the case due to abuse of court process and lack of diligent prosecution.
The journalists were arraigned before the court on February 7 on two counts of alleged criminal conspiracy and defamation.However, for 11 months, the prosecution failed to present any evidence to prove that the media outlet’s reports were false.On February 6, 2024, the police arrested, detained and charged the two journalists — Salihu Ayatullahi, the Editor-in-Chief, and Adisa-Jaji Azeez, the Managing Director — in court.
The Publisher, Salihu Shola Taofeek and another reporter, Abdulrahaman Taye, were also joined in the suit.This action followed a complaint filed by Engineer Abdul Jimoh Muhammed, Rector of Kwara Polytechnic.
The complaint was based on two investigative reports published by The Informant247: ‘Just a Paint Job: Inside Kwara Polytechnic’s Shoddy Project Commissioning (Part 1)’ and ‘How Kwara Polytechnic Rector Made False Claims About Institution’s Financial Status, Commissioned Shoddy, Uncompleted Projects.’
