Two church members were arraigned in the Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan on Monday for alleged defamation.

The police charged Tofunmi Oluwaseun, 21, and Ibikunle Akanbi, 46, who attend Faith and Miracle International Church, Ibadan, with conspiracy, defamation and conduct likely to cause the breach of peace.

They pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecutor, Adeshina Folaranmi, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on October 2, at about 1:21 p.m., at Awotan, Ibadan.

Mr Folaranmi alleged that the defendants published a defamatory statement on WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook against their pastor, Gbemiga David.

He alleged that the defendants’ aim was to tarnish the pastor’s image and that of the church.

The prosecutor said the defendants also conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause the breach of peace by calling the pastor a madman and alleging that people used to die in his church.

He said the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 516, 375 and 249(d) of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

Counsel to Mr Oluwaseun, Olayinka Tope, and that of Mr Akanbi, Mr Dotun Akinsanmi, appealed that the bail be granted to them in the most liberal terms.

Magistrate Oluwabusayo Osho therefore admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N500,000 each and two sureties each in like sum.

Ms Osho adjourned the case until January 29, 2026, for hearing.

(NAN)