Kwara Govt Withdraws Defamation Charges Against Akoguns, Settles Out Of Court
The Akoguns with their lawyer
The Kwara State government has withdrawn charges against Sobi FM’s Senior editor, Dare Akogun and his brother, Abdulrasheed Akogun, publisher of Fresh Insight online TV.
During the proceedings, the government prosecutor, Busari Olorundare, applied for the withdrawal of the case dated 14th October, 2022 stating no reason for his action.
Magistrate Bio Salihu, who presided over the matter acceded to the request, and thereafter terminated all the charges against the defendants and discharged them accordingly.
It would be recalled that the duo were charged to court by the police through a petition letter written by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mallam Rafiu Ajakaye, accusing them of criminal defamation and inciting public against the Government.
Meanwhile a statement Signed by Nigeria Institute of Public Relations NIPR AD-HOC COMMITTEE, Dr. Saudat Salah Abdulbaqi
Nigeria Institute of Public Relations
(NIPR), Kwara State, reads in part “Following the timely intervention of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Kwara Chapter, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Kwara State, Mallam Rafiu Ajakaye has withdrawn the defamation case charged against the duo of Abdulrasheed and Dare Akogun.
The withdrawal of the case before the Court was sequel to the resolution jointly signed by the warring parties on 23rd November, 2022 at NIPR Image House, Ilorin and tendered before the court as a basis for withdrawing the charges.
The concerned parties while signing the resolution paper witnessed by NIPR Chairperson, Dr. Saudat Salah Abdulbaqi, Mr Kunle Akogun and the Reconciliation Committee chaired by Dr Oba La’aro pledged to sheath their swords and give peace a chance on the firm belief that jaw-jaw is better than war- war.
In ensuring a win-win resolution, the parties agreed that the matter should be allowed to die a natural death on the strength that it would not be used, either by act of omission or commission, as a potent tool by any of the parties in the nearest future.
While the matter was on, NIPR observed with utter dismay that the crisis was exacerbated by the prejudicial activities of some media houses including social media handles who wrongly run commentary on the matter while it was before the court.
“We hereby appeal to media houses and new media outlets to refrain from making hurtful references to the issue particularly now that the issue has been amicably resolved.
“We, hereby, express our immense gratitude to all stakeholders especially the Chief Press Secretary, Mr Kunle Akogun for honouring our numerous invitations and other notable associations and members of the society whose complementary interventions had become very helpful in bringing this matter to a fruitful close,” Abdulbaqi added.
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