….Face Defamation of Character charge.
Two men have been docked before an Akure Magistrate’s Court for alleged for alleged defamation of character and cyberbully of Hon. Olugbenga Omole, an All Progressives Congress chieftain and immediate past Special Adviser to the Ondo State Governor on Transportation.
The defendants, Daudu Emmanuel, 51; and Garuba Adeola, 50 were brought to court by police on two count charges of conspiracy and defamation of character allegedly committed against the person of the Akogun of Oka-Akoko.
A Police prosecutor, Suliaman Adebayo told the court that the defendants and others at large committed that offense on April 14, 2025 at about 12:30 pm in the Ondo Magisterial District.
Adebayo alleged that the defendants conspired to damage the reputation of Akogun Olugbenga Omole by falsely accusing him of forging the signatures of APC executives in Ward 4, Oka-Akoko, Akoko South West area of the state.
According to the prosecutor, the defendant’s actions have subjected the complainant to hatred, contempt, and ridicule within the party.
The offences committed, according to the charge, are punishable under Sections 517 and 357 of the Criminal Code Law of Ondo State,2006.
However, Emmanuel and Adeola pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
Following their not-guilty plea, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendants till the determination of the charge.
However, the defendants’ lawyer, Bode Akinyemi urged the court to admit his clients to bail in the most liberal terms, saying the counts in which the defendants were charged are available.
The prosecutor said the court should use its discretion in granting the bail applications.
Consequently, Magistrate T. I. Ayodele James, in her ruling on the bail application, admitted each of the defendant to bail in the sum of N250,000, with two sureties in like sum.
The magistrate also ordered that the sureties must be civil servants of level 16 within the Ondo State Government.
She adjourned the case till May 15 for hearing.
If the defendants are unable to meet their bail requirements were remanded at Olokuta Correction Centre in Akure.
HOW IT STARTED AND WHAT LED TO THE PROSECUTION OF THE DEFENDANTS;
Barr. OLABANJO AYENAKIN, the lawyer to Akogun Omole had earlier written a petition to the Commissioner of Police in the state;
CRIMINAL DEFAMATION, FALSE INFORMATION TO THE POLICE, CYBER BULLYING, CYBERSTALKING, AND CONDUCT LIKELY
We act as solicitors to Hon. Olugbenga Omele, the Akogun of Oka land and the immediate past Special Adviser to the Governor of Ondo State on Transportation (hereinafter referred to as “our client”), and on whose behalf this petition is caused to be written.
It is our brief that our client has been subjected to series of malicious and disparaging campaign of false allegations, defamation, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking orchestrated by the following individuals:
- Mr. Daodu Randolph Emmanuel of Owalagba Quarters, Agba, Oka-Akoko, Akoko South West, Ondo State,
- Mr. Kekere Festus,
- Mr. Monday Garuba.
These individuals have engaged in a calculated attempt to tarnish our client’s reputation, incite public disaffection, and undermine his political standing through false petitions, media smear campaigns, and false police reports.
April 14, 2025, our client was invited by the police on serious allegations of forgery and threat to life, instigated by Mr. Daodu Randolph Emmanuel, Mr. Kekere Festus, and Mr. Monday Garuba. However, during the ensuing police interview, the accusers failed to substantiate their claims and even contradicted their initial allegations, confirming that the petition was Fabrication designed to harass our client.
Despite the baseless nature of the allegations, immediately after our client’s departure from the police station an online publication titled “Signature Forgery, Ex-Aiyedatiwa Aide, Olugbenga Omole, Grilled by Police in Akure” (attached as Annexure A) was maliciously circulated on an online blog, AMNEWSNIGERIA.
This publication falsely portrayed our client as a criminal suspect, thereby defaming his character, diminishing his public esteem, and jeopardizing his political career. This publication demonstrates a deliberate intent to incite public hatred and lower our client’s estimation before the Governor and the public.
The petition submitted to the police by these individuals contained false information, intended to waste police resources and harass our client. This constitutes an offense under the Criminal Code, and is punishable by law.
The continuous online harassment, false publications, and tagging of our client in defamatory posts amount to cyberstalking and cyberbullying under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015. Also, the actions of these individuals have created unnecessary tension, public ridicule, and a threat to peace, especially given our client’s political stature.
In light of the above, we respectfully request that your office probe our claims with a view to investigating and prosecuting these individuals. We trust that your office will act swiftly to uphold the rule of law and we anticipate your urgent intervention.
OLABANJO AYENAKIN ESQ
(Lawyer)