Covid-19: Osun court remands man in prison over Facebook comment

A magistrate court in Osogbo, Osun State, yesterday remanded a man, Saheed Akinloye, in prison over his comment on Facebook concerning COVID-19. Akinloye was arrested by police over his comment on his Facebook page where he claimed that the state government imported COVID-19 patients into the state to get funds from the federal government. The […]

A magistrate court in Osogbo, Osun State, yesterday remanded a man, Saheed Akinloye, in prison over his comment on Facebook concerning COVID-19.

Akinloye was arrested by police over his comment on his Facebook page where he claimed that the state government imported COVID-19 patients into the state to get funds from the federal government.

The police prosecutor, Mr John ldoko, told the court that Akinloye’s post was with intent to incite members of the public against the Osun State government.

Idoko quoted the accused person to have written thus, “When I accused the Osun State government of importing COVID-19 patients into the state just to access fund from the federal government, many didn’t believe. The said imported patients are now negative. APC, you are not doing well.”

The prosecutor said that on April 11, 2020 at 11pm, Akinloye interfered with an Executive Order of the Osun State government when he published the item on his facebook page.

He added that the action of the accused person was in contravention of COVID-19 Laws of Osun State 2020, and he had thereby committed an offence contrary to, and punishable under Section 61 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.

After the arraignment, the state counsel, Dapo Adeniji, told the court that the state government was interested in the matter.

He, therefore, took over the case.

The counsel to Akinloye, Mr Bamidele Ajibade, sought for the bail of his client, but Adeniji opposed the bail request.

Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara ruled he was not satisfied with the facts to be considered on whether to grant the defendant bail or not.

Ayilara ordered for the filing of written application for bail.

He remanded the accused person in prison and adjourned the substantive case to May 13, 2020.