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A former Oyo state lawmaker Folaranmi Oyebanji, and a 93-year old man, Mathew Ademola have been arraigned by Oyo State Police Command before an Ogbomoso Chief Magistrates’ Court for alleged perjury, false and defamatory publication on a pending matter in the court.
PLATFORM TIMES recalled that seven persons including Oyebanji had on July 9, 2022 been arraigned.
They were charged with “conspiracy, forgery, publication of false documents, and threat to murder Chief Solomon Ojedayo and his family members.”
Oyebanji pleaded not guilty to the
the fresh four counts with suit number ; MOG/11c/2023.
The charge sheer read that Oyebanji and one other person now at large, on 16th September, 2021 at about 10:00 am at Oko area, Ogbomoso, in the Ogbomoso allegedly did conspire to commit perjury, publication of false and defamatory news, and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
The prosecution told the court that the defendant therefore committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.
The charge read further “on the second count, while the substantive matter was ongoing in the court, Oyebanji allegedly “granted an interview to a journalist on a matter pending before the Chief Magistrates’ Court, Oja’gbo, Ogbomoso where you are on oath as a defendant on Charge No: MOG/157/2021.
“You directed Femi Ogunlana to make publication of it in his Ogbomoso insight Online platform with an intent to incite public against the aforesaid Magistrates Court 1, Oja’gbo, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 118 of the Criminal Code Cap 38. Vol II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.
“The third count had it that the defendant with the intent to injure the reputation of Solomon Ojedayo and expose him to hatred and ridicule and damage him in his trade, the defendant unlawfully published defamatory spoken words recorded in audible sound which was legibly written and published by Femi Ogunlana in Ogbomoso insight Online Platform that Solomon Ojedayo promised financial inducement to the Kingmakers in Oko, and also called him Agbeseode, an Oko indigene, but nothing to show for it at Oko.
“You thereby committed an offence contrary to section 373 and punishable under section 375 of the Criminal Code Cap 38. Vol II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.
“Oyebanji was on the last count charged with conduct likely to cause breach of peace through the defamatory publication against High Chief Solomon Ojedayo, “an offence contrary to and punishable under section 249(d) of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.”
Oyebanji, having pleaded not guilty to all the counts, his lawyer, I. O. Atofarati, prayed court to grant him (Oyebanji) bail on most liberal terms.
Dorcas Olatunji held the brief of Dr. Olutayo Oyewale for the complainant.
In his ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Muideen Salami, granted Oyebanji bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.
He therefore adjourned the matter till February 27, 2023 for mention.
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