AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
An ex-parliamentarian, Dr. Folaranmi Oyebanji, has been arraigned before a Chief Magistrate’s court sitting in Ogbomoso, Oyo State over allegations of perjury, threat to life and publication of defamatory article.
According to the Oyo State Police Command, Oyebanji alongside six others conspired to publish some documents found to be false and also threatened to kill Chief Solomon Ojedayo and his family members.
Oyebanji, a nonagenarian named Chief Mathew Wojuade Ademola and five others were arraigned in court on July 9, 2022.
A fresh 4-count-charge marked MOG/11c/2023 brought against the defendants read that “On the 16th September, 2021 at about 10am at Oko area, Ogbomoso in the Ogbomoso Magisterial District, did conspire to commit felony to wit perjury, publication of false and defamatory news and conduct likely to cause breach of peace, and therefore committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Volume II Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.”
It alleged that while the substantive matter was ongoing in court, Oyebanji “granted an interview to a journalist (Femi Ogunlana) on a matter pending before the Chief Magistrate Court, Oja’gbo, Ogbomoso where you are on oath as a defendant on Charge Number MOG/157/2021: Commissioner of Police versus Chief Matthew Wojuade Ademola and six others, and you directed Femi Ogunlana to make publication of it in his Ogbomosoinsight Online platform with an intent to incite public against the aforesaid Magistrate Court 1, Oja’gbo, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 118 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Volume II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.”
Third count read that the defendant, with the intent to injure the reputation of High Chief Solomon Ojedayo and expose him to hatred and ridicule and damage him in his trade, “unlawfully published defamatory spoken words recorded in audible sound which was legibly written and published by Femi Ogunlana in Ogbomosoinsight Online Platform that High Chief Solomon Ojedayo promised financial inducement to the kingmakers in Oko, and also called him Agbeseode, an Oko indigene, but nothing to show for it at Oko.
“You, thereby, committed an offence contrary to Section 373 and punishable under Section 375 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Volume II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.”
Last count alleged Oyebanji of conduct likely to cause breach of peace through the defamatory publication against High Chief Solomon Ojedayo, “an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 249(d) of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.”
However, Oyebanji pleaded not guilty to all the charges. His lawyer, I. O. Atofarati, prayed the court to grant him bail in most liberal terms.
Chief Magistrate Muideen Salami granted the ex-lawmaker bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the matter till February 27 for mention.
However, Abdullahi, the Prosecutor, informed the court that the Police would substitute the charge on the next adjourned date.
