Baring any last minute retraction from either the Defendant himself, Ododo D’flower Boiz Vanguard or any of the various peddlers of different versions of a well orchestrated stories concerning how the Hon. Accountant-General of Kogi State, Hajiya (Dr) Habibat Aliyu Onumoko was said to have jailed a Facebook user who goes by the name, Ododo D’flower Boiz Vanguard, in the past two to three months, as a seeker of truth and justice, I decided to make an independent, dispassionate and unbiased investigations into the matter for the purpose of unraveling the truth behind the sensational story and setting the record straight. And here are what I got from a reliable and non-interested individual.
That, indeed, the said Facebook user who goes by the name, Ododo D’flower Boiz Vanguard did make an unfounded, denigrating and unverified allegations against the office and person of the Hon. Accountant-General of Kogi State, Hajiya (Dr.) Habibat Aliyu Onumoko concerning how she has been interfering, disrespecting and usurping the functions and duties of the various LGA Chairmen in Kogi State, vis avis some other political appointees of the State Government.
Subsequently, it’s stated further that, based on the complaint lodged by the Hon. Accountant-General of Kogi State, the suspect was arrested and charged to court in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As amended).
But unfortunately, the suspect who could not meet up with his bail conditions after having been granted bail by the court, had to remain in the Correctional Facility Center for a period spanning two to three months.
By the clear provision of section 6 of the CFRN, 1999 (as amended), the courts are vested with the power to interpret the law. Therefore, it’s not for an individual to suggest to court how any particular law is to be interpreted. The law is also very clear that accused persons are presumed innocent until otherwise is proved. The law is also very clear that, accused persons are to be charged to court within a period of 24hrs to 48hrs depending on the radius between the court premises and the Police station where the suspect is being detained. The law is also very clear about certain offences that are ordinarily bailable and others that are not ordinarily bailable. It’s also worthy of note the fact that, courts are saddled with the responsibility of giving bail conditions, not the Complainant, nor the Defendant. It’s also a common knowledge the fact that, it’s for the suspect or accused persons to find a way to perfect his/her bail conditions, not the Complainants.
Investigations revealed that the Defendant was granted bail immediately after he was arraigned in court. But sadly, he failed to meet up with his bail conditions, hence his remain in detention for a period running into two to three months.
May we also be properly guided that, unverified or untrue publications against any person is actionable in law as it can constitutes both a criminal or civil actions in law.
Whilst I sympathize with the suspect over his inability to have fulfilled his bail conditions on time, I would also like to use this medium to advise any would-be publisher of unverified information about any individual to carry out due diligence on his/her source of information before rushing to publish same because when you published an unverified information about an individual that is capable of affecting his/her personal image or reputation negatively in the eyes of a reasonable people in the society, then such an act becomes actionable in law just as the legal maxim says, thus; Ubi Jus, Ibi Remedium–where there’s wrong, there’s right.
However, criticisms are part and parcel of democratic good governance. But be that as it may, it’s always very important and necessary that you have your source of information verified first, before making publication.
On this note, I wish to make it abundantly clear that, the said suspect named, Ododo D’flower Boiz Vanguard was never incarcerated as it’s being peddled on various social media platforms. Rather, he was duly arraigned in court, granted bail just like our brother, Austin Okai, but failed to meet up with his bail conditions on time which are sacrosanct for his final release from the Correctional Facility Center.
On the final note, I wish to seize this opportunity to appeal to the Hon. Accountant-General of Kogi State, Hajiya (Dr) Habibat Aliyu Onumoko to reconsider her decision to set the law in motion against the said suspect and withdraw the charges against the Defendant whom I verily believed MUST have learnt his lessons.
To all the media Houses, persons of interests and the general public, it’s hoped that you would all disregard and discountenanced all the negative and unverified sensational reportage with respect to this matter.
Let’s endeavor to always speak the truth, no matter whose ox is gore.
– Barr. Haruna Usman writes from Lokoja, Kogi State.
