Kwara Government Drags Ex-Governor Saraki To Court For Claiming AbdulRazaq Didn’t Study Beyond Secondary School

The Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin has fixed July 22, 2026, for the arraignment of former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, over alleged criminal defamation arising from remarks the Kwara State government said he made against Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

The state government dragged Saraki before the court over an alleged derogatory and defamatory statement in which he was accused of falsely claiming that Governor AbdulRazaq did not possess education beyond the secondary school level.

According to the charge filed by the prosecution, Saraki allegedly published and circulated the statement on or about April 17, 2026, through social media platforms and newspapers.

The prosecution accused him of publishing a statement containing insulting, derogatory and abusive language, alleging that Governor AbdulRazaq “is not educated up to secondary school education,” adding that 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 Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the Kwara State Government, which you did in a manner likely to cause breakdown of public peace and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 399 of the Penal Code, CAP. P4, Laws of Kwara State, 2006.”

At Thursday’s proceedings, counsel to Saraki, Jimoh Mumeen (SAN), represented by T.A. Ahmed, urged the court to dismiss the charge, arguing that the matter was improperly brought before the court.

The defence, through a motion on notice, sought seven principal reliefs bordering on improper service, lack of jurisdiction, abuse of court process and other grounds, insisting that the case was not triable before the Kwara State High Court.

Adopting the defendant’s written address, Ahmed told the court, “In all, we pray the court to dismiss the charge before it. Looking at the position of our address, we urge the court to decline jurisdiction on the matter.”

Responding, prosecution counsel Rafiu Balogun informed the court that the state had opposed the application by filing a counter-affidavit.

He said, “We opposed the motion on notice by filing a counter affidavit on June 11, 2026. I pray the court to dismiss the application of the defendant/applicant. The application is frivolous and incongruous.”

In his ruling, Justice M.O. Folorunsho dismissed all seven reliefs sought by the defence and held that the court had the jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

The judge ruled that “this court is blessed with territorial jurisdiction to hear this case,” adding that the allegation of criminal defamation “is standing against Senator Saraki on the matter.”

On Saraki’s physical presence in court before arraignment, Justice Folorunsho said, “By the provision of Section 227b, Supra, this application being interlocutory, this court can dispense with the physical presence of the defendant/applicant, which has been done up till when this ruling is being given now.”

The judge further held that “An appraisal of the charge sheet and the accompanying proof of evidence does not in any way suggest it is a politically motivated action. In view of the above, I hold that the objection of the defendant/applicant is without any iota, and it is accordingly hereby dismissed.”

Following the ruling, Justice Folorunsho adjourned the matter until July 22, 2026, when Saraki is expected to be arraigned on the criminal defamation charge.  (SaharaReporters)