Kwara Govt Faces Backlash Over Flawed Case Against Journalist And Activists

The Kwara State Government has come under fire after filing a controversial case against an investigative journalist and two activists over their online publications criticizing the state’s response to insecurity.

The case, which targets journalist Buhari Olanrewaju Ahmed, human rights advocate Comrade Saliu Bolakale, and Take-It-Back coordinator Saidu Musa, has been marred by procedural errors, including missing signatures and dates on court documents.

The three were earlier arrested in July 2025 after calling out the government’s handling of a protest against growing insecurity in Ilorin. Their arrest followed a complaint from Abubakar Sadiq Buhari, the governor’s aide on Social Investment, who accused them of defamation and cyberstalking. Despite public concern, the defendants were detained at the State CID and later remanded by a magistrate’s court that reportedly lacked jurisdiction over their case.

Their lawyer, Taofiq Olateju, condemned the state’s legal process, describing it as flawed from the start. He said the defence had already filed an application demanding the Attorney General or the Commissioner of Police explain why the charges should not be struck out. The legal team maintains that the charges, built on defective filings, violate due process and amount to political persecution.

Court documents show that the trio is accused of posting statements on a WhatsApp group with over 700 members, alleging that government aides ordered thugs to attack peaceful protesters in Ilorin. Authorities claim the messages damaged the reputation of top officials and could disturb public peace, invoking Sections 97, 392, and 114 of the Penal Code Law. The prosecution also singled out Olanrewaju for allegedly calling Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq “clueless and heartless” in a separate post.

The charges extend to a report shared by one of the activists citing Sahara Reporters, which detailed claims of assault by thugs linked to the governor’s aides during a demonstration against insecurity. Police investigators allege the report could incite unrest, though critics view it as an attempt to silence dissent.

The controversy began after protesters in July demanded government accountability for rising crime across the state. Witnesses said the demonstration turned violent when suspected thugs, accompanied by police officers, attacked participants and deleted evidence from their phones.

The unfolding case has raised wider questions about free speech and the government’s commitment to justice. Legal analysts and civic groups warn that the flawed filing exposes the desperation of authorities to intimidate critics rather than confront the insecurity that continues to trouble Kwara residents.