Defamation: Labour Strike Stalls Adeleke’s Aide, Muniru Raji’s Trial

The ruling of a Federal High Court in Osogbo on the criminal defamation of character case against Mr Muniru Raji, the Special Adviser to the Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke was stalled on Monday by the Nigerian Labour unions strike action.

The matter concerns the petition filed by Prince Adebayo Adeleke (BANIK) to the Police on defamation of his character against Muniru who accused the former on a Radio programme that he obtained a road contract from the government of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and absconded with the money without executing it.

The presiding judge, Justice Ayo Emmanuel was billed to deliver his ruling on the application of the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada to take over the matter, saying he received a purported fiat from the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to this effect.

The Police Prosecuting Counsel, Barrister Baokum Osei had objected this application, saying, no Fiat has been given by the AGF to the State to take over the case, just as the office of the Inspector General of Police has never received any fiat in the instant case.

Recalled that counsel to Muniru, Nahim Adekilekun had also informed the court that his client was battling with ‘Chronic Ulcer’, and he could not appear before the court for arraignment at the last sitting.

However, when the case was being expected to come up for ruling today, the court clerk informed counsels that the presiding judge would no be sitting due to strike action, and the parties would be notified of another date.