Osun Court Renders Judgment On Alleged Defamation by Popular Facebook Blogger

A Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo on Thursday granted bail to Yahaya Zakariya, a popular Ilorin-based blogger, for alleged deformation.

Zakariya, who faces one count of defamation, had previously pleaded not guilty to the alleged offense.

The presiding judge, Judge Emmanuel Ayo, in his ruling, granted the defendant a bill in the amount of 1 million naira and a bill of an equivalent amount.

Judge Ayo said the surety must reside within the jurisdiction of the court, with an affidavit of means and tax payments, while his address must be verified by the investigative police officer (IPO).

The case was adjourned to December 6 for a new hearing.

Earlier, the police prosecutor, O.C. Famuyini, told the court that the accused committed the offense in September, in the metropolis of Osogbo.

Famuyini said the accused defamed the character of Azeez Alalade and his entire family.
He said Zakariya took to social media to defame the character of the complainant and his family members for unknown and unjustifiable reasons.

The prosecutor said that the offense committed
violated section 24, subsection 2 of the Cybercrime Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2015. Defense attorney Abioye Hashim previously urged the court to grant his client release under surety in the most liberal terms.