Former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the jurisdiction of the Kwara State High Court in the criminal defamation suit instituted against him by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
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Saraki’s decision followed Friday’s ruling by Justice M.O. Folorunso of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin, which dismissed his preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction.
The court subsequently adjourned the case until July 22, 2026, for further proceedings.
In a statement issued on Friday by his Press Officer on Local Matters, Abdulganiyu Abdulqadir, Saraki said his lawyers had advised him to appeal the ruling because jurisdiction is a fundamental issue that must be fully determined before the matter can proceed.
“The lawyers have maintained their stance that jurisdiction is fundamental to the case and should be fully determined before the matter can proceed. In line with this position, they have advised Dr. Saraki to challenge the decision of the Ilorin High Court at the Court of Appeal,” the statement read.
According to the statement, Saraki has directed his legal team to immediately activate the appeal process and ensure that the necessary processes are filed before the next adjourned date fixed by the trial court.
The statement also disclosed that the prosecution had sought the issuance of a bench warrant against Saraki during Friday’s proceedings.
However, the court declined the request after it was informed that Saraki’s lead counsel, Jimoh Mumini, SAN, was indisposed.
The criminal charge arose from a social media post made by Saraki on April 17, 2026, in response to an earlier statement issued by the Kwara State Government.
The state government alleged that the post amounted to criminal defamation and cyberbullying against Governor AbdulRazaq, particularly over comments questioning the governor’s educational qualifications.
It also claimed that the post was capable of causing a breach of public peace.
Saraki’s lawyers, however, argued that the processes filed by the prosecution were incompetent and that the High Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
They also maintained that the post was an exercise of Saraki’s constitutional right to freedom of expression and right of reply as an opposition political leader.
The former Senate President expressed confidence in the judiciary, saying he believed the courts would dispense justice fairly.
He urged his supporters in Kwara State and beyond to remain peaceful and law-abiding while the legal process continues.
Saraki also vowed to continue speaking on matters of public interest despite what he described as attempts by the state government to silence him through the courts.
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