An Islamic cleric, Jamiu Adeguwa, has been remanded in police custody after a Federal High Court in Osogbo ordered that he remain behind bars over alleged defamatory posts shared on social media.
The ruling, delivered on Monday by Justice Suleiman Hassan, followed Adeguwa’s arraignment on a one-count charge of alleged defamation. Although the cleric pleaded not guilty, the court refused to grant him immediate bail and instead directed that he remain in the custody of the Zone 11 Police Command until his formal bail application is heard on June 26.
According to the prosecution, led by Mr. J. Famuyin, the alleged offence took place between July 4 and July 31, 2022, within Osogbo. The prosecutor told the court that Adeguwa allegedly published verbal and photographic content through his social media platform, Al-Madrasatu Wahabiya, which was said to contain false and damaging claims against the complainant.
The prosecution argued that the posts were deliberately made to tarnish the complainant’s reputation and violated provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
Adeguwa’s lawyer, Mr. Oladayo Ogungbe, pleaded with the court to release his client on liberal bail terms, insisting that the cleric deserved his freedom while awaiting trial.
However, the prosecution opposed the oral bail request, urging the court to keep the defendant in custody pending the hearing of a properly filed bail application.
Justice Hassan agreed with the prosecution, declined the oral bail application, and ordered that the Islamic cleric remain in the custody of the Zone 11 Police Command until the court considers his formal bail request.
The case has now been adjourned to June 26, when the court is expected to hear and rule on the bail application.
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