Kwara Government Drags Saraki To Court

Kwara state government on Wednesday dragged the former Senate President, Dr.Bukola Saraki, before the state high court for alleged criminal defamation against governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.

The allegation is contained in a one-count charge sheet , signed by the state attorney -general and commissioner for Justice, Senior Ibrahim, director, Public Prosecution (DPP), Ayoola Idowu Akande, and assistant chief state counsel, ministry of Justice, B.L. Abdulsalam.

In the charge, the government accused Saraki of commiting an illegal act for alleged publishing and sharing statement on or about 17th April, 2026 on social media and newspapers containing insulting, derogatory and abusive languages that the governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is not educated up to secondary school education, “which you (Saraki) knew or ought to have known to be false, but you intentionally published the said statements in a manner to insult or provoke the governor of Kwara State, His Excedency,

During the court proceedings, the prosecution counsel RO Balogun, said that the matter was for arraignment, and prayed the court to issue bench warrant against Saraki to make him appear in court.

The counsel said that court should discountenance adjournment motion, adding that since it is meant for arraignment.

“The defendant’s counsel is in court appearing for him and he should be here. We’re the prosecution and we should be in charge. He’s been duly served. The case should commence. There is no reason proffered by his counsel for his absence. We pray court to issue bench warrant against the defendant in line with section 138”, he argued in court.

In his counter argument, the defendant’s counsel, Jimoh Mumeen (SAN), challenged jurisdiction of court, saying that the federal high court has jurisdiction and not the state high court.

“The defendant brought the matter here for reason best known to them”, he said, adding that his client was not properly served, “We challenge the service”.

After a two-hour recess requested by the judge to rule on motion for preliminary objection and or adjournment between the counsels, the court ruled that the defendant is free to ask for adjournment.

Thus, the court presided over by Justice M. O. Folorunso, adjourned the matter for preliminary objection and arraignment till July 3, 2026.