Former Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has resolved to challenge at the Court of Appeal the ruling of the Kwara State High Court affirming its jurisdiction to hear the criminal defamation and cyberbullying suit filed against him by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

The case came up on Friday before Justice M. O. Folorunso of the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin. Although the court declined the prosecution’s request to issue a bench warrant against Saraki, it also rejected the defence’s argument that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter. The court subsequently adjourned proceedings until July 22.

In a statement issued by his Media Office, Saraki said his legal team maintained that the issue of jurisdiction was fundamental and ought to be determined before the substantive case could proceed.

Consequently, he said he had directed his lawyers to immediately file an appeal against the ruling before the next adjourned date.

The case arose from a social media post made by Saraki on April 17, 2026, in response to an earlier statement by the Kwara State government.

The government alleged that the post amounted to criminal defamation and cyberbullying against Governor AbdulRazaq, claiming that Saraki’s comments questioning the governor’s educational qualification were capable of causing a breakdown of public peace.

According to the statement, Saraki’s lawyers argued that the processes filed by the prosecution were defective, that the High Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case, and that the former Senate President’s comments on Facebook and X were protected by his constitutional rights to freedom of expression and reply as a political opposition leader.

Saraki reaffirmed his confidence in the Nigerian judiciary and urged his supporters to remain calm and law-abiding.

He also vowed to continue speaking on issues of public and national interest despite what he described as attempts by the Kwara State Government to silence him, expressing confidence that the legal process would ultimately vindicate his position. (Nigerian Tribune)

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