The Federal High Court, Osogbo Division, on Monday, remanded an Islamic cleric, Jamiu Adeguwa, in the custody of the Zone 11 police command over alleged defamatory statements.

Justice Suleiman Hassan ordered the defendant’s remand in police custody after arguments by both prosecution and defence counsel, pending a formal bail application.

Mr Adeguwa is facing a one-count charge of criminal defamation, to which he pleaded not guilty.

The prosecution counsel, J. Famuyin, told the court that the defendant committed the offence between July 4 and July 31, 2022, within the Osogbo metropolis.

Mr Famuyin said the defendant sent verbal and photographic messages through his social media platform, Facebook, known as the Al-Madrasatu Wahabiya page.

He said that the defendant knowingly published false information that was injurious and offensive to the character and reputation of the complainant, Yusuf Adepoju, president of the Academy of Islamic Propagation (ACADIP).

The prosecutor said the offence contravened Sections 24(1)(a) and (b) and 24(2)(a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.

Counsel to the defendant, Oladayo Ogungbe, prayed the court to admit his client to bail on the most liberal terms.

The prosecution counsel, however, opposed the oral application, urging the court to direct that the defendant be kept behind bars at the Ilesa Correctional Centre.

In his ruling, the trial judge, Mr Hassan, ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Zone 11 police command pending the hearing and determination of a formal bail application.

The judge subsequently adjourned the case until June 26 to hear the bail application. 

(NAN)