Court To Decide Talolorun’s Defamation Case Today

• Yusuf Oketola

Two traditional religion devotees; Abdulazeez Adegbola aka Talolorun and one Chief Ademola Olawoore, Oluwo of Tede who were both standing trial of alleged defamation at the Kwara State Upper Area Court sitting in Ilorin will know their fate today (Monday) when the court sits to determine their case.

The duo were standing trial in an alleged defamation of one Alfa Tonile Okutagidi and conspiracy to disrupt peace in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital contrary to the provisions of the Penal Code laws of Nigeria.

When the matter came up before the court last week on Monday, September 4, 2023, counsels to the two traditionalists led by M.P.Gegele objected to the case, noting that it was wrong for the accused persons to be standing trial for the same offence in two separate courts.

He argued that while the duo were arraigned for an offence in the Magistrate Court, it was wrong to arraign the same persons for the same offence in another court in the same jurisdiction.

He said, “I want to bring it before your worship that the defendants have been charged for defamation of Alfa Okutagidi before the Magistrate Court and they are also brought to this Court for the same offence. It is wrong to charge the same persons for similar offence in another Court within the same jurisdiction. I want to humbly submit that it is against the law and the fundamental rights of the defendants.”

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“I want to plead that the case be struck out by this Court so that we can concentrate on the case at the Magistrate Court.”

The counsel pleaded with the court to strike out the case so that they could concentrate on the case at the Magistrate Court.

Counsel to Alfa Okutagidi, Mr U.S Umar argued that it was wrong for the case to be struck out by the court, adding that the case may be similar but the personalities that brought the allegations are different.

He said that while Talolorun was the sole accused person in the case before the Magistrate Court, he (Talolorun) and Oluwo were charged in the case before the Upper Area Court.

The Presiding Judge of the Upper Area Court then fixed Monday, September 11, 2023, for determination of the case before the Court.