Instead of addressing the fundamental societal issue that affects many Kwarans, the commissioner decided to seek damages in court.

The Kwara State Commissioner for Water Resources, Usman Lade, has initiated a lawsuit against a journalist and publisher of Nupekotvlafiagi, Tauheed Baruwa Muhammed for accusing the government of neglecting its core responsibilities.

During an interview with SaharaReporters, Muhammed stated that his platform exposed how Commissioner Lade ignored his duty, leaving thousands of households without access to drinkable water. 

Instead of addressing the fundamental societal issue that affects many Kwarans, the commissioner decided to seek damages in court.

The journalist said: “Our report further claimed that Lade’s actions were a diversion from his primary duty to address the pressing water needs of residents in Lafiagi and surrounding regions. Communities in these areas have been grappling with severe water shortages, with many residents reportedly "crying out" for relief.”

“The commissioner was busy distributing farm inputs while neglecting core water problems in the state,” the journalist added.

The commissioner felt the report was derogatory and, therefore, approached the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin to award N10million damages against the journalist.

SaharaReporters obtained a copy of the court processes, which showed the commissioner demanding that the court declare Muhammed’s report libellous.

The document reads: “A DECLARATION that the defendants' libellous publications of Sunday, 28* day of July, 2024, titled "HON USMAN LADE KWARA COMM. FOR WATER RESOURCES UNDER FIRE FOR MISMANAGEMENT AND NEGLECT" which were widely publicized and circulated without any lawful excuse or justification are defamatory and libellous of the claimant.

“A DECLARATION that the defendant's libellous re-publications of Monday, 29th day of July, 2024, titled "HON USMAN LADE KWARA COMM. FOR WATER RESOURCES UNDER FIRE FOR MISMANAGEMENT AND NEGLECT" which were widely publicized and circulated without any lawful excuse or justification are defamatory and libellous of the claimant.

“III. A sum of N10, 000,000:00 (Ten Million Naira) each as general damages for the said libelous publications published on Nupekotv's and Nupekotv-Lafiagi's Facebook pages and other online platforms on both the 28th day of July, 2024, and the re-publication and circulations on the WhatsApp group on July 29th, 2024 against the Claimant.

“IV. V. VI. VII. AN ORDER directing the Defendant to make and/or tender a written, clear, categorical and unequivocal retraction of the said malicious and libellous publication in any two national dailies (newspapers) forthwith and give the retraction as much prominence as he gave the original news report in the front page of Nupekotv's and Nupekotv-Lafiagi's tabloids.

"AN ORDER directing the Defendant to render and/or tender an unreserved public apology in writing to the Claimant for the said libellous publication.ӌ