A businessman, Ganiyu Abiola has been charged by the Oyo State Police Command for alleged defamation of a police officer through Facebook and WhatsApp.
The defendant, whose address was not stated, was brought before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrate’s Court on two counts related to defamation and breach of peace.
According to the police prosecutor, Inspector Sikiru Opaleye, the defendant committed the offences on May 12, 2024, around 6:00 p.m. in the Egbeda area of Ibadan.
Opaleye stated that the defendant, using his Facebook and WhatsApp accounts, made allegations that one Inspector Folasade Adeoye assisted someone in committing fraud, knowing that the information was false.
Furthermore, Opaleye told the court that the defendant’s actions were likely to cause a breach of peace by spreading false information about Adeoye.
According to the prosecutor, the alleged offences violated Section 249 (d) and 375 of the Criminal Law of Oyo State, 2000.
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
As a result, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Olabisi Ogunkanmi, granted the defendant bail in the amount of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.
Ogunkanmi stipulated that one of the sureties must belong to a human rights association, and the other must provide evidence of three years’ tax payment to the Oyo State Government.
Ogunkanmi adjourned the case to November 19, 2024, for further proceedings.
