Yahaya Zakariya, a popular Ilorin-based blogger, has been granted bail by a Federal High Court in Osogbo on Thursday for alleged defamation.
Zakariya, who is facing a single count of defamation, had previously pleaded not guilty to the charge levelled against him.
In his ruling, the Presiding Judge, Justice Emmanuel Ayo, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1 million and one surety in the same sum.
According to Justice Ayo, the surety must reside within the jurisdiction of the court, provide an affidavit of means, and make tax payments, and his address must be verified by the Investigation Police Officer (IPO).
The case was adjourned to December 6 for further hearing.
Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, O.C. Famuyini, had told the court that the defendant committed the offence sometime in September, within Osogbo metropolis.
Famuyini said the defendant defamed the character of one Azeez Alalade, and his entire family.
He said that Zakariya went on social media to defame the complainant’s character and members of his family for unknown and unjustifiable reasons.
The prosecutor said the offence committed contravened Section 24, Subsection 2 of the CyberCrime Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2015.
The Defence Counsel, Abioye Hashim, had earlier prayed the court to grant his client bail in the most liberal terms.
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