A popular social media commentator and member of Omoluabi Progressives, Kamorudeen Oladepo, popularly known as Adabanija, was arraigned before a Federal High Court in Osogbo, on Wednesday morning.
Osun Defender had reported that Adabanija was first arrested on Thursday, October 3rd, and was rearrested on Tuesday, November 12, for Facebook posts said to have allegedly defamed the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola.
It was gathered that Adabanija was hurriedly taken to court by the Police on Wednesday when he reported at the State Police Criminal Investigative Department as part of his administrative bail conditions.
Osun Defender learnt that he was arraigned on four counts of alleged defamation, cyberstalking among others.
The popular social media influencer told Osun Defender, “I was hurriedly arraigned before the Federal High Court at Osogbo this morning by Oyetola over defamation of character unnoticed and the case has been adjoined to December 12th for hearing.
“The arraignment came to me as a surprise because since November 18th that I have granted administrative bail after two days in the police custody, I have been reporting at police CID office on daily basis until this morning that I was taken before the federal high court without informing me or my lawyer.”
It was further gathered that the trial was adjourned by Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi till December 12 because Adabanija’s plea could not be taken as he had no legal representation in court.
READ: Adabanija: Over 10 People Arrested For Allegedly Criticising Oyetola
GROUNDS OF THE CASE
In the charge sheet for the suit marked FHC/OS/212C/2024 sighted by Osun Defender, Police Prosecutor, F.B. Osei, held that Adabanija’s Facebook posts of September 30, 2024, and November 11, 2024, against the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, were capable of instigating hatred, insults, ridicule, and damage to his reputation, which is an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Preventions, ETC) Act, 2016.
The charge sheet read, “That you ADABANJA KAMORUDEEN OLADEPO ‘M’ and others now at large, on or about the 30 day of September 2024, at Osogbo, Osun State, in the Osogbo Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, did conspire among yourselves to commit offence to wit. publication of Defamatory Matter/ Cyberstalking and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable Under Section 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Preventions, ETC) Act, 2016.
“That you ADABANIJA KAMORUDEEN OLADEPO ‘M’ and others now at large, on the same date, time, place and in the aforementioned judicial division of the federal high court, did with intent to injure the reputation of one Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola ‘m’, falsely run defamatory statements on a social media- Facebook page that the said Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola ‘m”, “in case you don’t know, the palliative rice president Tinubu gave all ministers, Oyetola used his own for his 70th birthday gifts,” thereby exposing him to hatred, inconvenience, danger, insults, ridicule, or damage to his profession or trade/reputation and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
“That you ADABANIJA KAMORUDEEN OLADEPO and others now at large, on the same date, time, place and in the aforementioned judicial division of the federal high court, did knowingly or intentionally and with intent to injure the reputation of one Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola ‘m’, falsely and defamatory statements on Facebook page that the said Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola, ‘you don’t know, the palliative rice president Tinubu gave all ministers, Oyetola used his own for his 70th birthday gifts,” thereby exposing him to hatred, Inconvenience, danger, insults, ridicule, or damage to his profession or trade/reputation and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24(2) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
“That you ADABANJA KAMORUDEEN OLADEPO ‘M’ and others now at large, on or before the 11th day of November 2024 at the same place and in the aforementioned judicial division of the federal high court, did with intent to injure the reputation of one Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola ‘m’, falsely run defamatory statements on a social media Facebook page that “payment of backlogs of modulated salary, governor Ademola Adeleke is doing wonderfully well unlike Oyetola who refused to pay,” thereby exposing him to hatred, inconvenience, danger, insults, ridicule, or damage to his profession or trade/reputation and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.”
A source who was in court said, “They couldn’t really take his plea because his lawyer was not present, or else, they would have remanded him in prison. The judge said till December 12 and the police should do all that they need to do before coming to court in December.”
The 54-year-old native of Ara in Egbedore local government of the state was first arrested by the police on Thursday, October 3, and taken to the state criminal investigative department (SCID), Osogbo, after petitions on his Facebook post on the Minister’s birthday.
Kamorudeen in the post said, “In case you don’t know, the palliative rice president Tinubu gave all ministers, Oyetola used his own for his 70th birthday gifts,” on September 29, 2024.
He accused the Minister of sharing the rice palliative rice allotted to members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) by President Bola Tinubu with his loyalists to mark his big day.
Although, he was later released on Monday, October 7, after an apology to Oyetola published in two national newspapers five days after his arrest, Adabanija’s situation is seen by many, including his tendency, Omoluabi Progressives, as a political witch hunt, especially after his re-arrest on November 12 and eventual release on November 14.
In a statement, Abosede Oluwaseun, Organising and Publicity Secretary, Omoluabi Progressives, the tendency berated the development, saying those responsible for Adabanija’s incarceration were out to gag opposing voices, especially to scare him off social media.
Oluwaseun added that the strategy of those who had earlier incarcerated him in police custody for five days earlier last month is to hoodwink perceived political enemies with state actors.
He urged members of the public to strengthen calls for Adabanija’s release without any condition.
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
