Osun court remands man, 32, over alleged fake news on Facebook

A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Osun on Tuesday ordered the remand of one Akinloye Saheed, 32, in Ilesa Correctional Centre for allegedly publishing a fake news on his Facebook account to incite members of public against the state government.

The Magistrate, Dr Olusegun Ayilara, ordered that the defendant be remanded pending the presentation of a formal bail application on the next date of adjournment, May 14.

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Counsel to the defendant, Mr Bamidele Ajibade and Mr Abioye Hasim, had earlier prayed the court to grant their client, who had pleaded not guilty, bail in the most liberal term.

Earlier, Mr Dapo Adeniji, the prosecutor, who is also the acting State Solicitor-General, had accused the defendant of a four-count charge bordering on misinformation and incitement.

The defendant said the prosecutor had on Saturday at about 11:05p.m. in Osogbo, interfered with the executive order of the state by publishing some misinformation to incite the public against the government.

According to the prosecutor, Saheed accused the Osun government on his Facebook account of importing COVID-19 patients into the state just to access fund from the Federal Government.

“The said imported patients are now negative. APC, you are not doing well,” the prosecutor quoted part of Saheed’s post.

The offences, said the prosecutor, were contrary to Sections 61, 374, 59 (1) of the Criminal Code and punishable under Section 24 of the Cybercrime Law.


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