Court rejects Kashamu’s contempt move against Premium Times

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By Olusola AJIBIKE

NIGERIA: OGUN State High Court on Thursday rejected the plan of Senator Buruji Kashamu to commit Premium Times for contempt over its publication.

The newspaper had reported on a petition written by some lawyers to the Ogun State Police Commissioner, Mr. Ahmed Iliyasu, alleging that suspected thugs hired by Kashamu, who is representing Ogun East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, attempted to kill them.

The lawyers, who are defence counsels representing a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, who was dragged to court by Kashamu for alleged defamation, said that their lives are no longer save thus they need police protection.

When the case filed by Kashamu resumed, the lead counsel to the claimant, Raphael Oluyede, informed the court on Premium Times report over the alleged assassination plot.

Oluyede said that the publication was a contempt of court and that the story had painted his client black in the eyes of the public.

After listening to Oluyede, the Judge, Justice Abiodun Akinyemi, sought the copy of the report and read through it.

After reading it, he declared that there was nothing wrong with the publication and therefore dismissed Oluyede’s request.

Akinyemi stated that the publication was the constitutional responsibilities of the newspapers to reports events.

“I have gone through the publications, and the court has nothing against the publication and it is not a contempt,” the Judge said, adding: “The newspaper is doing its job, am not going to say much.”

Meanwhile, the court has adjourned further hearing in Kashamu’s case till March 16 and 17 after defence counsel informed the judge that his client was sick.

According to him, he said that Kashamu only managed to appear in court, but could not continue the case due to his illness.

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