Alleged Defamation: Saraki Heads To Appeal Court over State High Court Jurisdiction
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
Former Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki has directed his legal team to challenge the ruling of the Kwara State High Court on the issue of jurisdiction in the criminal defamation and cyberbullying case instituted against him by the Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
The decision followed Friday’s proceedings before the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin, where Justice M. O. Folorunso declined the defence’s objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the matter and adjourned the case until July 22.
The court session had proceeded despite the absence of Saraki’s lead counsel, Jimoh Mumini (SAN), who was said to be indisposed.
Although the prosecution urged the court to issue a bench warrant against the former Senate President, the request was rejected by the court.
Saraki’s legal team, however, insisted that the issue of jurisdiction is fundamental and must be resolved before any substantive hearing can continue.
According to a statement issued on Friday by Abdulganiyu Abdulqadir, Press Officer on Local Matters in the Abubakar Bukola Saraki Media Office, the former Senate President has instructed his lawyers to immediately approach the Court of Appeal.
“Dr Saraki’s lawyers have maintained their stance that jurisdiction is fundamental to the case and should be fully determined before the case can proceed,” the statement said.
The statement added: “Dr Saraki has subsequently mandated his lawyers to immediately activate the appeal process and ensure the processes are fully filed before the adjourned date fixed by the trial court.”
It would be recalled that the suit stemmed from a social media post made by Saraki on April 17, 2026, in response to an earlier statement issued by the Kwara State Government. The state government alleged that the post, published on Facebook and X, amounted to criminal defamation and cyberbullying against Governor AbdulRazaq.
According to the government, Saraki’s remarks questioning the governor’s educational qualification were capable of causing a breakdown of public peace in the state.
However, Saraki’s lawyers argued that the processes filed by the prosecution were defective and that the Kwara State High Court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the matter. They also maintained that the social media post was a legitimate exercise of the former Senate President’s constitutional right to freedom of expression and his right of reply as a leading opposition figure.
Reaffirming his confidence in the judiciary, Saraki said he remains committed to pursuing all legal avenues available to defend his position.
“Dr Saraki once again reiterates his confidence in the Nigerian judiciary and its ability to do justice to all parties, in all cases and situations,” the statement noted.
It added that he had directed his legal team “to always ensure that his position on all issues is strongly defended and justifiably put forward before the court on all matters, including this present case arising from a social media post.”
Saraki also appealed to his supporters across Kwara State and beyond to remain peaceful and law-abiding throughout the legal proceedings.
He further assured them that he would continue to speak on issues affecting the public and the nation despite what he described as attempts by the state government to silence him.
According to the statement, “The former Senate President will also want to assure all his supporters and members of the public that he will continue to lend his voice to issues of public and national interest, in spite of the machinations by the outgoing Kwara State government to silence him.”
Saraki also repeated his earlier criticism of the AbdulRazaq administration, saying, “Mr Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s oppressive tendencies are mere inconveniences that will soon blow away. This is because the administration has only 10 months to stay in office and the tendency that it represents will be totally eradicated in Kwara State by the people.
