Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has lost his first legal battle in the defamation case filed against him by the Kwara State Government, as a high court dismissed his jurisdictional objections and fixed July 22 for his arraignment.
In a ruling delivered on Friday, Justice M.O. Folorunso rejected all seven preliminary objections raised by Saraki’s legal team, affirming that the Kwara State High Court has the territorial authority to hear the case. The judge also turned down the prosecution’s request for a bench warrant against Saraki, giving him a reprieve for now.
The legal firestorm began with a social media post Saraki published on April 17, in which he allegedly claimed that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq never completed secondary school. The Kwara State Government labeled the statement false, insulting, and provocative, charging Saraki under Section 399 of the Kwara State Penal Code for allegedly breaching public peace.
At the previous hearing, Saraki was conspicuously absent, prompting the prosecution to push for a bench warrant. But his defence team fought back, challenging both the court’s jurisdiction and the validity of the service of processes.
Following Friday’s ruling, Saraki’s camp released a statement explaining that his lead counsel, Jimoh Mumini, was indisposed and unable to attend. The former senate president has now directed his lawyers to appeal the jurisdiction ruling before the next adjourned date, insisting the substantive case cannot proceed until the jurisdictional issue is fully settled.
Despite the legal turbulence, Saraki expressed confidence in the judiciary and called on his supporters to remain calm and peaceful as the legal process unfolds.
