A Kwara State High Court has fixed July 22, 2026, for the arraignment of former Senate President Bukola Saraki after dismissing his preliminary objections challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear a criminal defamation case filed against him by the state government.
In a ruling delivered on Friday, the presiding judge held that the court has the authority to hear the matter and rejected all seven objections raised by Saraki’s legal team. The court also declined the prosecution’s request to issue a bench warrant following the former senate president’s absence from the previous hearing.
The case is based on a social media post allegedly published by Saraki on April 17, in which he claimed that Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq did not complete secondary school.
According to the charge, the state government alleged that the publication was false, defamatory, and capable of disturbing public peace, contrary to the provisions of the Kwara State Penal Code.
Following the ruling, the court ordered that the case proceed to arraignment on July 22.
Reacting to the decision, Saraki’s media office explained that his lead counsel was unable to attend the proceedings due to illness. The former senate president also disclosed that his legal team would appeal the court’s decision on jurisdiction before the next hearing, insisting that the issue should be resolved before the substantive trial begins.
Saraki reaffirmed his confidence in the judicial process and urged his supporters to remain calm as the legal proceedings continue.
