The Osun State Magistrate’s court sitting in Osogbo, Osun state, on Tuesday, remanded a 32-year-old man, Akinloye Saheed, in prison for allegedly publishing false information on his Facebook page to incite members of the public against the state government.
The prosecution team led by the Acting Solicitor-General of the state, Dapo Adeniji, told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offence on April 11 around 11:05pm in Osogbo.
The charge sheet read to the defendant alleged that he “did interfere with executive order of the state when you published on your Facebook page that “when I accused Osun government of importing COVID-19 patient into the state just to access fund from the FG, many didn’t believe. The said imported patients are now negative. APC you are not doing well.”
The prosecution alleged that the defendant has committed offences contrary to and punishable under sections 61, 374, 59(1) of the Criminal Code and section 24 of the cybercrime.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the four count charges bothering on misinformation and incitement.
His Counsels, Bamidele Ajibade and Abioye Hasim, urged the court to grant their client bail in the most liberal term, saying the essence of bail is to ensure the presence of the accused in court to attend his trial.
They promised that the defendant will provide substantial sureties and will not tamper with police investigation if admitted to bail.
The Counsels submitted that the defendant has been released on administrative bail and he has been going to the police station.
But, the prosecution opposed the bail and urged the court to remand the defendant.
Magistrate Ayilara thereby directed the Counsels to approach the court with formal bail application and ordered the defendant to be remanded in prison custody.
He subsequently adjourned the case to April 14, 2020 for mention.
