One Salami Abideen Jide of Oyo town, Oyo State, was arraigned on Wednesday before the Customary Court of Appeal, Iyaganku, Ibadan, on a four-count charge relating to the publication of a defamatory statement on the WhatsApp platform against Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, a one-time Senator representing Oyo Central.
The sitting presided over by Justice Olaniyan F. R., however, admitted Salami to bail of N500,000 and two sureties, with the case adjourned till March 21.
Salami, in the case number OY/CCGA/IBN/36C/2024, with the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State, as the prosecutor, is accused of conspiring with others at large to commit misdemeanour to the publication of false news in 2023, with the intent to cause fear and alarm to the public.
Specifically, Salami is accused of labelling Monsurat Sunmonu, on the Whatsapp platform of Oyo Federal Constituency, as a murder witch, an offence deemed punishable under Section 375 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 38, Vol. II.
By making a statement about Sunmonu capable of raising fear and alarm in the public, Salami was accused of committing an offence punishable under Section 517 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 38, Vol. II Laws of Oyo State, Nigeria 2000.
While Inspector Olalekan Adegbite represented the prosecution, the duo of Adebayo Awolusi and Ogunjimi B. O. stood for the defendant, Salami.
Some of the charges read: “That you, SALAMI ABIDEEN JIDE ‘M’ and others at large sometime in the year 2023 at Odo Arin Area Dacamca Oyo, in Oyo Magisterial District, did conspire together to commit misdemeanour to wit publication of false news with intent to cause fear and alarm to the public and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 517 of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Vol. II Laws of Oyo State, Nigeria 2000.
“That you, SALAMI ABIDEEN JIDE ‘M’, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, published a defamatory statement on the WhatsApp platform of Oyo Federal Constituency (OFC) that one Senator Alhaja Monsunrat Sunmonu is a murder witch, knowing such to be false, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 375 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol.
“That you SALAMI ABIDEEN JIDE ‘M’ on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did publish a false statement on the WhatsApp platform of Oyo Federal Constituency (OFC) that one Senator Alhaja Monsunrat Sunmonu is a murder witch, knowing such to be false and to cause fear and alarm to the public, and there committed an offence punishable under Section 59 (1) of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Vol. II Laws of Oyo State, Nigeria 2000.”
Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Oyo Zone, led by Chairman, Oyo East Local Government Area, Mr Saheed Arowosaye, witnessed the sitting, expressing confidence that justice will prevail in the case.