Kwara Governor AbdulRazaq Sues Two Brothers for Defamation, Court Grants ₦5m Bail
Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has filed a five-count criminal defamation lawsuit against Hon. Mashood Mustapha and his brother, Bolakale Mustapha, at the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin. The charges, which include perjury and inciting public disturbance, were formally presented before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar on Monday.
The case, filed on behalf of the state by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Ayoola Akande, accuses the Mustapha brothers of spreading false and damaging content aimed at tarnishing the image of the governor. One of the main allegations involves a five-minute, forty-one-second video that the defendants allegedly published, which prosecutors claim could incite public unrest.
Bolakale Mustapha is specifically accused of filing a suit at the Federal High Court against the governor based on false claims. His brother, Hon. Mashood Mustapha—a former House of Representatives member and one-time APC gubernatorial aspirant—is also alleged to have released a video containing abusive and derogatory language directed at Governor AbdulRazaq.
Both brothers pleaded not guilty and denied the allegations during Monday’s proceedings. Their legal teams, led by Professor Kayode Olatoke SAN and Moses Ebute SAN, argued that the charges were bailable and requested the court to release the defendants on liberal terms. They assured the judge that their clients were respected figures in Kwara and capable of producing reliable sureties.
The prosecution, however, urged the court to deny bail, citing that one of the charges carries a possible 14-year jail term and is not ordinarily bailable. They requested that the defendants be remanded in federal correctional custody.
Justice Abdulgafar, in a brief ruling, held that the charges were bailable and granted the brothers bail in the sum of ₦5 million each, with one surety. The court then adjourned the matter to July 18, 2025, for further hearing.
Speaking to journalists after the session, defense counsel Moses Ebute SAN said the bail was expected and appreciated, noting that his team was ready to proceed with the trial, but the prosecution asked for more time.
The case has drawn attention within Kwara State political circles, especially due to the high profile of the parties involved and the nature of the allegations. The outcome of the trial may have broader implications for political discourse and free expression in the state.
