A high court in Kwara has fixed July 22 for the arraignment of Bukola Saraki, former Senate President, after dismissing his preliminary objection challenging its jurisdiction to hear a criminal defamation charge filed against him by the state government.
In a ruling on Friday, M.O. Folorunso, the presiding judge, held that the court has territorial jurisdiction to entertain the case and dismissed the seven preliminary objections raised by the defence.
The judge also declined the prosecution’s application for a bench warrant against Saraki over his absence from court.
The criminal charge stems from a social media post published by Saraki on April 17, in which he allegedly claimed that AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Governor of Kwara State, did not complete secondary school.
According to the one-count charge, the state government alleged that the publication was false, insulting, and capable of causing a breach of the peace, contrary to Section 399 of the Kwara State Penal Code.
At the previous sitting, the prosecution applied for a bench warrant against the former Senate President after he failed to appear for arraignment.
However, the defence challenged the competence of the charge, arguing that the Kwara State High Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case.
The defence also questioned the service of court processes on the former Senate President.
In his ruling on Friday, the judge dismissed the objections and directed that the matter proceed to arraignment on July 22.
In a statement issued after the proceedings, Saraki’s media office said Jimoh Mumini, his lead counsel, was unable to attend court because he was indisposed.
The former Senate President said he has instructed his lawyers to appeal the ruling on jurisdiction before the next adjourned date, insisting that the issue should be determined before the substantive case proceeds.
Saraki also said he remains confident in the judiciary and urged his supporters to remain peaceful while the legal process continues.
