Court dismisses no-case submission
Magistrate Olaoluwa Olanipekun of the Oyo State Magistrates’ Court 7, sitting in Iyaganku, Ibadan, has dismissed an address of no case submission filed by Mr. Gbenga Asabe in the hearing of defamation of character suit filed against him and Prophet Amos Ojo, aka Elewuogbo, by the Police, over alleged defamation of Satguru Maharaji Ji.
During the last hearing, Police prosecutor Lawal Musbau said Asabe, a Lagos-based blogger, through his counsel, Barrister Akande, had adopted address of no case submission the last time he appeared in court.
He said this means the claimant had no enough evidence to nail him, but his hopes were dashed when the magistrate ruled that he had a case to answer and dismissed his prayer of no case submission address.
Musbau, however, said the first defendant, Ojo, still maintained his position on the lawsuit and chose to proceed with the defence of the case against Maharaj Ji.
As a result of the ruling which dismissed the address of no case submission filed by Asabe, the second defendant, Asabe, had chosen to enter full defence with the first defendant, Prophet Ojo, against Maharaj Ji.
Magistrate Olanipekun, however, adjourned the case till June 17 for further hearing after his ruling on the address of no case submission and documentation of the arguments of parties involved in the suit.
It will be recalled that Maharaj Ji’s counsel, Olasehinde Obisesan, had said the duo of Elewuogbo and Asabe conspired to use media publications to tarnish the image of Maharaj Ji, an act punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol. 11, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.
