Saraki denies link with trial of social media critic

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, on Friday, said he was
committed to freedom of speech and the use of social media.

A statement by the Media Office of the President of the Senate
on Friday quoted Saraki as responding to reports that a civil
servant, Mr. Biodun Baba, was being allegedly vilified for
criticising him on social media.

In a series of tweets on his personal account @BukolaSaraki, the
President of the Senate, said, “I use social media, so I am a firm
believer in freedom of speech and using social media to air out
one’s views. This will never change.

“As governor, senator and now as @SPNigeria (Senate President),
I have never attempted to stifle anyone’s freedom to speak his [or]
her mind. This will not change.

“As a public servant who has subjected himself in the service of
my country, I face criticisms everyday from many quarters.
Criticism does not deter me from serving my country. I learn from
constructive criticism. It inspires me to continue working.

“My colleagues and I will continue to work to pass legislations
that will make life better for all Nigerians.”

Thirty seven-year-old Baba was on Thursday arraigned in a
magistrate’s court in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. The court is
presided over by Mr. Ahmad Dasuki.

Baba, who is said to be a primary school teacher and a member of
the All Progressives Congress, was accused of making
uncomplimentary and inciting post on his Facebook page against
Saraki.

The offences, according to the Judicial Form 2 issued by the
court, were contrary to Sections 113, 114, 393, 394 of the Penal
Code of Northern Nigeria and Sections 883 and 204 of the Criminal
Code Act.

The complainant, Alhaji Jimoh Adesina, who is the APC Chairman
for Kwara Central Senatorial District, Ilorin, accused Baba, who is
of Ile Kolawole Gambari Ward 1, Ilorin East Local Government Area,
of engaging in acts capable of inciting “disturbance of public
peace, injurious falsehood, printing or engraving matter known to
be defamatory and insult to a religion.”

He said, “Since July, 2017, the accused, through his walls on
Facebook, has been inciting the public against the Kwara-Central
Senatorial District representative at the upper chambers, Dr
Olubukola Saraki, the incumbent Senate President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria.

“Baba has been exerting undue influence on innocent persons
which is a threat to public peace by spreading falsehood which has
caused and still causing disaffection, pandemonium among the
citizens of Kwara State and beyond by disparaging the person of the
Senate President, the good people of Kwara-Central Senatorial
District, which he represents.”

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, on Friday, said he was
committed to freedom of speech and the use of social
media.

A statement by the Media Office of the President of the Senate
on Friday quoted Saraki as responding to reports that a civil
servant, Mr. Biodun Baba, was being allegedly vilified for
criticising him on social media.

In a series of tweets on his personal account @BukolaSaraki, the
President of the Senate, said, “I use social media, so I am a firm
believer in freedom of speech and using social media to air out
one’s views. This will never change.

“As governor, senator and now as @SPNigeria (Senate President),
I have never attempted to stifle anyone’s freedom to speak his [or]
her mind. This will not change.

“As a public servant who has subjected himself in the service of
my country, I face criticisms everyday from many quarters.
Criticism does not deter me from serving my country. I learn from
constructive criticism. It inspires me to continue working.

“My colleagues and I will continue to work to pass legislations
that will make life better for all Nigerians.”

Thirty seven-year-old Baba was on Thursday arraigned in a
magistrate’s court in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. The court is
presided over by Mr. Ahmad Dasuki.

Baba, who is said to be a primary school teacher and a member of
the All Progressives Congress, was accused of making
uncomplimentary and inciting post on his Facebook page against
Saraki.

The offences, according to the Judicial Form 2 issued by the
court, were contrary to Sections 113, 114, 393, 394 of the Penal
Code of Northern Nigeria and Sections 883 and 204 of the Criminal
Code Act.

The complainant, Alhaji Jimoh Adesina, who is the APC Chairman
for Kwara Central Senatorial District, Ilorin, accused Baba, who is
of Ile Kolawole Gambari Ward 1, Ilorin East Local Government Area,
of engaging in acts capable of inciting “disturbance of public
peace, injurious falsehood, printing or engraving matter known to
be defamatory and insult to a religion.”

He said, “Since July, 2017, the accused, through his walls on
Facebook, has been inciting the public against the Kwara-Central
Senatorial District representative at the upper chambers, Dr
Olubukola Saraki, the incumbent Senate President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria.

“Baba has been exerting undue influence on innocent persons
which is a threat to public peace by spreading falsehood which has
caused and still causing disaffection, pandemonium among the
citizens of Kwara State and beyond by disparaging the person of the
Senate President, the good people of Kwara-Central Senatorial
District, which he represents.”