The Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki at the weekend debunked the widespread rumour that he ordered the sack of a Kwara State civil servant, Biodun Baba for criticising him on the social media.
Denying his reported involvement in Baba’s plight in serial tweets on his twitter handle; @bukolasaraki, on Friday, Saraki said he is no stranger to criticism from several quarters as a public servant adding that he is committed to serving Nigeria.
“My attention has just been drawn to an entirely untrue story about a civil servant being sacked for criticising me.
“As a public servant who has subjected myself in the service of my country, I face criticism everyday from many quarters.
“Criticism does not deter me from serving my country, I learn from constructive criticism. It inspires me to continue working,” he stated.
The Senate President stated further that the National Assembly will continue to work to pass a legislative agenda that will make life better for all Nigerians.
“I use social media, so I am a firm believer in freedom of speech and using social media to air out ones views. This will never change,” he said adding that he learns from constructive criticism and it inspires him to continue working.
According to him, as governor, Senator and now Senate President of Nigeria, I have never attempted to stifle anyone’s freedom to speak his/her mind and this will not change.
Recall that a 37-year-old primary school teacher, Biodun Baba, was last Thursday arraigned before an Ilorin Senior Magistrates Court for allegedly defaming Saraki on Facebook.
Baba, a teacher at LGEA School, Olorunlana in Moro Local Government Area of the state was alleged to have through his Facebook postings been inciting the public against the Senate President.
The criminal charges were filed following a complaint by Alhaji Jimoh Adesina, Chairman, Kwara South Chapter of the All Progressive Congree to the Chamber of S. I. Solagberu and Co in Ilorin.
Adesina, accused Baba of printing or engraving matters on his Facebook wall known to be defamatory.
Solagberu, who filed criminal charges on behalf of Adesina, accused Baba of inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and injurious falsehood posts on Facebook.
He also alleged that Baba’s postings was capable of causing disaffection and disparaging against Saraki.
The offences, he said, were contrary to sections 113, 114, 393, 394 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria and section 883and 204 of the Criminal Code Act.
However, the counsel to the complainant, Sikiru Solagberu, said he had filed an application before the court seeking to withdraw the charges.
Solagberu read a letter he received on July 26, instructing him to withdraw the case against the accused.
The lawyer cited section 248 of the Criminal Procedure Act, Cap 41, Laws of the Federation 2004 to support the application for withdrawal.
He said the instruction of the complainant to withdraw the case was as a result of intervention by well meaning Nigerians, including Ilorin Emirate Traditional Council, leaders of the various communities in the state as well as party loyalists.
The court case instituted by Senate President, Bukola Saraki, against Omoyele Sowore is still on – Sowore is the publisher of online newspaper, Sahara Reporters –
