Police arrest Islamic cleric over alleged defamation allegations

The police in Oyo State have detained Islamic cleric Jamiu Adegunwa on accusations of publishing defamatory content against the president of the Academy of Islamic Propagation (ACADIP), Mallam Yusuf Adepoju.

Adegunwa was taken into custody in Ibadan after he failed to appear before a Federal High Court in Osogbo, Osun State.

Prosecutors claim that the cleric used his social‑media platform, Al‑Madrasatu Wahabiya, to make statements that defamed Adepoju, his organization, and members of his family. The alleged posts, said to have been made from 6 July 2021 to the present, are alleged to have caused injury, insult, hatred, enmity, and damage to the complainant’s reputation and character.

According to the prosecution, Adegunwa had previously filed a lawsuit against the Inspector‑General of Police and the former Assistant Inspector‑General of Police in Zone 11 at the Federal High Court in Lagos, seeking N500 million in damages. The court ruled in favor of the police, and subsequent orders led to the cleric’s arrest.

The prosecution also states that the alleged conduct violates Sections 24(1)(a) and (b) and 24(2)(a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.

The case is currently before the Federal High Court in Osogbo under Charge No. FHC/OS/86C/2025, where Adegunwa faces a single charge of alleged defamatory publications.