The Kwara State Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Usman Yunusa Lade, has filed a direct criminal complaint against the Editor-in-Chief of NUPEKO TV-Lafiagi, Tauheed Baruwa Muhammed, over an alleged defamatory publication made on Facebook.
The case, lodged before the Chief Magistrate Court in Ilorin, accuses Muhammed of publishing a story titled “Hon Usman Lade, Kwara Comm. for Water Resources Under Fire for Mismanagement and Neglect” on July 28, 2024. Lade claims the report falsely accused him of embezzlement, negligence, and incompetence, describing it as “malicious and aimed at tarnishing his reputation.”
According to court documents, the Commissioner alleges that the story was widely circulated across social media and WhatsApp groups, causing what his counsel described as “maximum reputational damage.” Lade’s legal team urged the court to issue a criminal summons or warrant compelling the journalist to appear and defend himself.
Meanwhile, critics say the move is part of a disturbing pattern in Kwara State, where government officials are accused of using the police and courts to silence journalists and activists demanding transparency.
This development comes as Lade’s hometown in Patigi Local Government Area faces worsening insecurity. Reports indicate that bandit attacks and kidnappings have forced residents to flee, with INEC staff in Patigi and Edu LGAs abandoning offices for fear of abduction.
Sources told SaharaReporters that even Lade town has been largely deserted, while the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise has stalled due to safety concerns.
In a similar case, Buhari Olanrewaju Ahmed, publisher of Afrika Eyes, and activist Comrade Saliu Bolakale were arrested and detained in July 2025 for criticizing the state government’s handling of insecurity-related protests.
The growing number of such arrests has drawn concern among civil society groups, who warn that press freedom and public accountability in Kwara are under serious threat.
