The Oyo State Police Command arraigned a 39-year-old man, Ganiyu Abiola, yesterday for allegedly defaming a police officer on Facebook and WhatsApp.
The defendant, whose address was not disclosed, faced charges of defamation and breach of peace before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrate’s Court, reports Daily Independent.
Inspector Sikiru Opaleye, the police prosecutor, informed the court that the defendant committed the offenses on May 12, 2024, around 6.00 p.m. in the Egbeda area of Ibadan.
Opaleye stated that the defendant, using his Facebook and WhatsApp accounts, accused Inspector Folasade Adeoye of assisting someone in committing fraud.
Opaleye also informed the court that the defendant behaved in a manner that could lead to a disturbance of peace by spreading false information about Adeoye.
The prosecutor stated that the alleged offenses went against Section 249 (d) and 375 of the Criminal Law of Oyo State, 2000. However, the defendant denied the charges.
Subsequently, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Olabisi Ogunkanmi, granted the defendant bail of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.
Ogunkanmi specified that one of the sureties must be a member of a human rights association.
She instructed that the other surety must show proof of three years’ tax payment to the Oyo State Government.
Ogunkanmi adjourned the case to November 19, 2024, for further proceedings.
