…Judge turns down govt’s request to sit after working hours
…to hear ex parte application tomorrow
The Kwara State Ministry of Justice has sought that the three prominent social media critics of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq – earlier arrested by the Police in the state – be remanded in Okekura prison through an ex parte application.
The Informant247 had reported that in the latest clampdown by the state government, opposition figures affected include Kayode Ogunlowo, Babatunde Olusola Saka, both members of the Lai Mohammed faction of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the State and likewise a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – Olusegun Olusola Sholyment.
The Office of the State Attorney General in its suit no MCIA/410C/2021 filed before the Kwara State Magistrate Court sitting in Ilorin on Tuesday alleged the opposition figure of Criminal conspiracy, Defamation, Inciting public disturbance, and injurious falsehood.
The government alleged that their action is contrary to sections 97, 392, 114, 393 of the Penal Code Law pointed out that it was committed on July 18, 2021.
Stating its grounds for the application of an ex parte order, the government, among others, said the respondents were arrested with some exhibits.
The Informant247 gathered that the state government submitted the application – requesting that the opposition figures be moved to Okekura prison – after the court’s official working hours which prompted the trial Judge, Mr. A.I. Dasuki to adjourn the case until tomorrow, Wednesday.
“The Court had closed already. But the representative of the government directed the Registrar to resume back to office to receive the Oath to support the ex parte application,” an informed source who declined to be identified told The Informant247. “The government also insisted that the judge must sit and grant the ex parte application outside of the official working hour which is between 8 am to 2 pm. The Judge bluntly refused. This eventually degenerated into a heated argument. But the Judge didn’t bow.”
Also, a copy of the affidavit in support of the motion sworn by Babatunde Lawal of the State Ministry of Justice and obtained by this medium stated – in item – that the “respondents were arrested on 26th and 27th of July, 2021 respectively by the Nigerian Police after they had been invited and they failed to honour the invitation”.
However, a police source who pleaded anonymity because he is not authorised to speak on the matter, denied that the oppositions figures were arrested.
He said, “The commissioner referred the matter to SIB unit immediately he received it. The Unit acted swiftly by inviting them via phone calls. While Sholyment honoured the invitation with his lawyers yesterday, Kayode Ogunlowo and Babatunde Olusola Saka only turned in today.”
Groups have, meanwhile, warned that the renewed crackdown by the Kwara State government on critics is meant at creating a chilling effect on freedom of expression online.
