A magistrate’s court sitting in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, North-central Nigeria, has struck out a defamation case brought against two journalists from a digital platform called, Informant247.
The police operatives have filed a case against Salihu Ayatullahi and Adisa-Jaji Azeez for allegedly defaming the Rector of the Kwara State Polytechnic, Abdul-Jimoh Muhammed.
This is sequel to an investigative report by the journalists, exposing alleged fraud and financial misappropriation in the institution.
The magistrate, Adebayo Qudus, while ruling an application by the defence, has struck out the case for abuse of court process and lack of diligent prosecution.
Mr Ayatullahi, the editor-in-chief of the outlet, and Mr Azeez, who heads its fact-checking desk, were arrested and detained following the complaint by the rector.
The police subsequently charged them before the magistrate’s court on 6 February 2024 with two counts of criminal conspiracy and defamation.
On the following day, 7 February, the police arraigned them, when the defendants pleaded not guilty.
However, the prosecution failed to present any evidence to support the case.
Jimoh-AbdulKadir Edun, the defence lawyer, said that he filed a notice of preliminary objection on 3 December against the first information report for abuse of court process and moved the application.