A MAGISTRATE COURT sitting in Ilorin of Kwara State has struck out a criminal and defamation case against Salihu Ayatullahi, the editor chief and Adisa-Jaji Azeez, the managing director of Informant247, an investigative platform based in Kwara State.
The suit was filed by Kwara State Polytechnic and the Nigerian police after exposing corruption scandals in the institution.
Magistrate Adebayo Qudus dismissed the case for abuse of court process and lack of diligent prosecution.
The journalists were arraigned before the court on February 7 on two counts of alleged criminal conspiracy and defamation.
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For over 10 months, the prosecution failed to present evidence before the court over alleged defamation filed against the media outlet.
On February 6, 2024, the police charged and detained the two journalists Ayatullahi and Jaji Azeez in court. The publisher, Salihu Ashoka Taofeek and his reporter, Abdulrahman Taye were joined in the suit, following a complaint by Engineer Abdul Jimoh Muhammed, the rector of Kwara Polytechnic.
The complaint was based on two investigative reports published by the outlet Just A Paint Job: Inside Kwara Polytechnic’s Shoddy Project Commissioning (Part 1)’ and ‘How Kwara Polytechnic Rector Made False Claims About Institution’s Financial Status, Commissioned Shoddy, Uncompleted Projects.’
The International Press Institute (IPI) described Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) as the biggest threat facing several media organisations in Nigeria.
It noted that SLAPP has done damage which has far-reaching effects on media professionals in this country.
The 2024 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked 112th out of 180 countries surveyed, scoring just 51.03 points because of the prevalence of journalists’ harassment, assault, incarceration, and sometimes killing.
It emphasised that Nigeria is one of West Africa’s most dangerous and difficult countries for journalists, who are regularly monitored, attacked and arbitrarily arrested, as was the case during the 2023 elections.
