The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has restrained Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq’s media aide, Fafoluyi Olayinka Michael, from further publication and circulation of alleged defamatory posts relating to the former Senate President Bukola Saraki.
Justice J. O. Musa issued the restraining order while delivering a ruling in an application brought by Mr Saraki against Mr Fafoluyi over alleged defamatory posts published on his Facebook and Twitter (now X) accounts.
Mr Olayinka had, on January 29, 2023, made a social media post titled ‘Police overpowers Saraki’s assassin, Ojulari on the attempt to kill All Progressives Congress’ candidate (APC) for Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency, Mr Muktar Shagaya at APC rally in Ilorin’.
Mr Shagaya, however, denied the publication against the former Senate president, urging its perpetrators to desist from heating up the polity of the good people of Asa/Ilorin-West.
The former Kwara governor, in the motion, requested the court to stop the defendant from further publication and circulation of the post.
Mr Saraki described the publication as detrimental to his person, praying to the court to direct the defendant for an apology widely published across several platforms in Nigeria as well as N10 billion for the general damage.
In a ruling dated December 12, 2024, the judge affirmed the merit of the motion, restraining further publication and circulation of the said post.
“The defendant, Fafoluyi Olayinka Michael, is hereby restrained by this honourable court, whether by himself and/or by his agents, servants, any media house or online platform, privies or any other person or authority howsoever named or described from publishing circulating and or/disseminating the post titled ‘Police Overpowers Saraki’s PDP assassins, Ojulari on attempt to kill All Progressives Congress candidate for Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency, Muktar Shagaya at APC rally in Ilorin’, widely circulated on his X (formerly Twitter) page or any other post in which the claimant was featured irrespective of its contents in obedience to lispendis, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit,” the ruling read.
The court also ordered the inspector general of police to launch an investigation into “the alleged use of the Facebook account @FafoIuyi Olayinka Michael (Solace) by an unknown person claiming to be Fafoluyi Olayinka Michael (Solace) and take necessary investigative action forthwith.”
The case was adjourned until February 10 and 11, 2025, for a definite hearing.
