The Lagos State Police Command arraigned two individuals, Nelson Godwin and Adigun Sobowale, on Friday for allegedly uttering derogatory allegations about the Oduduwa University in Ipetumodu, Osun State, on a live broadcast studio.
Godwin and Sobowale were charged with four charges of defamation and breach of peace in the Yaba Magistrates’ Court, presided over by Magistrate Patrick Nwaka.
According to the prosecutor, Thomas Nurudeen, the defendants made defamatory claims in a video on YouTube and a broadcast station, WOTV, claiming that the institution was notorious for killing people and collecting unlawful tickets from students and instructors.
Nurudeen alleged that they committed the offence on July 6 and 7, 2023, at around 10 and 11 a.m., at the WO Ibile/WOTV headquarters in Gowon Estate, Egbeda, Lagos.
He claims that the offense committed violates and is punished by Sections 516,373, 374(1) a b (2)(3) and 375 and 249(d) of the Criminal Code chapter ‘C38’ Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
The defendants, on the other hand, pleaded not guilty to the allegations brought against them.
Mr Omotosho and S.V Ogunbiyi, the defendants’ lawyers, pleaded with the court to give them bail on the simplest terms possible.
Following their not-guilty plea and with no opposition from the prosecuting counsel, Nwaka granted them bail in the sum of N200,000 apiece, with two sureties in the same sum.
Nwaka postponed the case to December 4, 2023, for further consideration.