A High Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, has dismissed a preliminary objection filed by former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and ordered that he be arraigned in an alleged defamation case instituted against him.
Justice M.O. Folorunsho delivered the ruling on Friday after considering arguments from both the defence and prosecution.
Saraki’s legal team had challenged the court’s jurisdiction to hear the matter and sought the dismissal of the criminal charge.
The prosecution, however, maintained that the court was competent to hear the case and urged the judge to allow the proceedings to continue.
In his ruling, Justice Folorunsho dismissed all 17 issues raised by the defence, describing the application as lacking merit.
The court subsequently ordered that the case proceed to trial and directed Saraki to appear for arraignment.
The charges stem from allegations that the former Senate President made defamatory statements against Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq through his verified social media platforms.
According to the prosecution, the statements were later published by national newspapers and allegedly contained claims questioning the governor’s educational qualifications.
Prosecutors argue that the publication was capable of damaging the governor’s reputation and causing a breach of public peace.
The matter has been adjourned until July 22, 2026, for formal arraignment.
