The Kwara State Government has filed a criminal defamation suit against former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, accusing him of making false claims about the educational background of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

The case, instituted before the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin, was filed by the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Senior Ibrahim, alongside the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ayoola Akande, and Assistant Chief State Counsel, B.L. Abdulsalam.

The matter came up on Wednesday before Justice M.O. Folorunso.

According to court documents, the government alleged that Saraki, on April 17, 2026, published and circulated statements through social media and newspaper platforms claiming that AbdulRazaq did not attain secondary school education.

The prosecution argued that the publication was false, malicious and intended to bring the governor and the state government into disrepute.

It further alleged that the statements contained insulting and abusive expressions capable of provoking public unrest and disturbing public peace, contrary to Section 399 of the Penal Code, Cap. P4, Laws of Kwara State, 2006.

At the proceedings, prosecuting counsel, R.O. Balogun, urged the court to issue a bench warrant against Saraki, arguing that the former Senate president failed to appear despite being served with the court processes.

“The defendant was duly served but failed to appear before the court. We, therefore, urge Your Lordship to issue a bench warrant to compel his attendance,” Balogun submitted.

He also opposed an application for adjournment filed by the defence, maintaining that the prosecution was ready to proceed with the case.

However, Saraki’s lawyer, Jimoh Mumini (SAN), challenged both the jurisdiction of the court and the validity of the service of the processes on his client.

“This matter falls within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court. In addition, the defendant was not properly served with the processes relied upon by the prosecution,” Mumini argued.

After hearing submissions from both sides and standing down the matter for about two hours, Justice Folorunso ruled that the defendant was entitled to seek an adjournment and fixed July 3, 2026, for the hearing of the preliminary objection and possible arraignment.

The PUNCH reports that the latest suit deepens the legal confrontation between the AbdulRazaq administration and Saraki.

Earlier on April 9, the state government filed a separate 20-count charge against Saraki, former Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, and two former aides over allegations relating to the arming of suspects convicted in connection with the 2018 Offa robbery attacks.

The other defendants in that case are Yusuf Abdulwahab, a former Chief of Staff to Ahmed, and Alabi Olalekan.

Responding to the earlier charges, Saraki denied any link to armed robbery or other criminal activities and insisted that previous investigations had cleared him of wrongdoing.

“I have nothing to do directly or indirectly with any case of armed robbery or any criminal matter,” Saraki said in a statement he personally signed.

The former Senate President maintained that he had been exonerated by both the police and the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, describing the prosecution as politically motivated.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by his media office, Saraki said his lawyers, led by  Mumini (SAN), appeared before the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin to challenge the suit filed over a social media post he made on April 17, 2026, in response to an earlier statement by the state government.

The case arose from allegations that Saraki’s comments on Facebook and X questioned the educational qualifications of Governor AbdulRazaq and amounted to criminal defamation and cyberbullying.

According to the statement issued by the Press Officer on Local Matters, Abubakar Bukola Saraki Media Office, Abdulkadir Abdulganiy, Saraki’s legal team, led by Mumini, maintained that the social media posts in question constituted a legitimate exercise of freedom of expression and a right of reply.

“Dr Saraki’s post on Facebook and X being complained of were mere exercises of his freedom of speech and right of reply, as the leader of the opposition to Governor Abdulrazaq’s political party,” the statement said.

It wondered why Saraki’s social media post could constitute criminal defamation and cyberbullying against the governor.

The statement noted, “We note that it is a recurring decimal for the Kwara governor to seek to use the courts to harass and intimidate the leaders of opposition in the state any time they make any comment against the policies and actions of his administration.

“We believe that, like his earlier efforts to abuse the judicial process to silence the opposition, this case will fall like a pack of badly arranged cards.

“We note that the Kwara State government believes the alleged defamatory social media post deserves more attention than the issue of acute insecurity plaguing the state, in which two of the three senatorial districts in the state have become a den of kidnappers, bandits, and insurgents.

“Also, the case of 176 people kidnapped from the Woro community in the northern part of the state who have been in captivity since early February is taking a back seat behind the issue of a social media post, which the governor’s handlers believed was unpleasant to him.

“Today, we noticed that the governor and his handlers mobilised the media and their supporters to the court premises. We believe the energy and resources deployed to achieve that could have been better utilised as part of the resources to secure the release of the captives in the kidnappers’ den across the state.

“We have mentioned these more sensitive alternatives that require the attention of Governor AbdulRazaq and his government instead of dissipating resources on the impact of words that he exchanged with the opposition leader in the state to demonstrate that the court case is just another diversionary tactic.”

It added, “Dr Saraki continues to retain his confidence in the Nigerian judiciary and its ability to do justice to all parties, in all cases and situations.

“That is why his lawyers will also continue to defend his position and strongly put forward his case before the court on all matters, including this case arising from a social media post.”

The former Senate President appealed to his supporters across the state and beyond to remain calm and law-abiding.

He assured them that all the oppressive tactics aimed at intimidating and silencing him would come to nought.

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has defended the detention and prosecution of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, insisting that its actions are guided strictly by the law and not politics.

The commission’s reaction followed the announcement by the El-Rufai Support Group Association that it had engaged Vanguard Africa, a Washington DC-based international advocacy firm, to lead a campaign highlighting what it described as the erosion of the rule of law and abuse of due process in Nigeria.

Speaking with The PUNCH on Wednesday, the ICPC spokesman, John Odey, said the commission was not disturbed by the group’s decision to seek international support.

He said, “We are not moved. We operate within the confines of the law. The ICPC is not moved at all.

“We operate within the confines of the law and will continue to carry out our functions within the confines of the law. We are not detaining him on our own. We are following lawful orders.

“He is in our custody by court remand. So, we don’t have any issues with that.

It’s a free world, it’s a free society, but people must operate within the confines of the law.”

Odey also dismissed claims that the anti-corruption agency was being used for political purposes.

“No, we are not political. The ICPC is not political. It has never been and never will be. The ICPC is an anti-corruption law enforcement agency. We have an Act that guides our operations.

“If there are infractions that fall within our Act and we charge you to court, it doesn’t matter whether you are a clerk in a government agency, a private contractor who has contravened the laws, or a political figure. It is immaterial.

“We do not politicise our issues, nor do we prosecute on the basis of political affiliations. The ICPC is not a political party and does not have any political affiliations,” he said.

Earlier, the El-Rufai Support Group Association announced the engagement of Vanguard Africa, a Washington DC-based international advocacy firm, to lead a campaign about what it described as the erosion of the rule of law and abuse of due process in Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, ERSGA said Vanguard Africa would coordinate outreach to officials of the United States administration, members of Congress, relevant agencies, pro-democracy institutions and multilateral stakeholders on its behalf.

According to the association, a regulatory filing published by the US Department of State indicated that Vanguard Africa would plan and execute outreach to U.S. Administration officials, Congress, relevant bureaus and agencies, pro-democracy institutions, and multilateral stakeholders for ERSGA.

ERSGA said the campaign was focused on the case of El-Rufai, whom it described as a reformer and senior statesman with decades of public service.

“Vanguard Africa will plan and execute outreach to U.S. Administration officials, Congress, relevant bureaus and agencies, pro-democracy institutions, and multilateral stakeholders on behalf of ERSGA, among other activities in the United States.

“Nasir El-Rufai is an accomplished reformer and senior statesman with decades of public service. According to media reports, since mid-February, he has been detained by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, while courts have repeatedly delayed bail hearings.

“ERSGA categorically rejects the ICPC accusations and maintains El-Rufai’s innocence, pointing to a series of alarming procedural irregularities.

“The treatment of Governor El-Rufai is not an isolated incident; it is a symptom of a deeper crisis threatening Nigeria’s democratic institutions,” the statement read.

Speaking on behalf of the association, Mohammed Salihu said the former governor’s case reflected broader concerns about democratic institutions in the country.

He added, “We are bringing these concerns to Washington because the international community has both the standing and the responsibility to speak plainly when due process is weaponised for political ends.”

The association said it viewed the case as a test of the impartiality of Nigeria’s institutions, particularly as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.

ERSGA warned that the use of legal mechanisms to sideline opposition figures could undermine free and credible democratic competition.

The group also called on the United States Government, international democratic institutions and civil society organisations to closely monitor developments in Nigeria.

It urged them to speak clearly in defence of due process, judicial independence, and the democratic space that free and fair elections require.

El-Rufai is being prosecuted by the ICPC over allegations of abuse of office, financial impropriety, and fraud during his tenure as governor.

The former governor is also facing prosecution by the Department of State Service over the alleged wiretapping of communications of the National Security Adviser.

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