NIGERIA: APPARENTLY aggrieved with being labelled as a drug baron and jail breaker, the Senator representing

Ogun East Senatorial District, Buruji Kashamu, has dragged a 44-year-old man, Deji Babington-Ashaye, to court.

Babington-Ashaye on Tuesday appeared before a Chief Magistrate Court in Abeokuta for using derogatory language

on the controversial politician, who won the Senate seat on the platform of the member of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The prosecuting counsel, Sunday Eigbejiale, informed the court that Babington-Ashaye, committed the crime between March 13 and 14, 2016 at about 2.30pm at a high school in Ogere within the Ogun State magistrate district.
The prosecutor further said that the accused person, who is a member of PDP, hurled abusive words on Kashamu on PDP whatsapp group named “PDP match to victory.”

According to him, this led to his arrest by the police and subsequent arraignment, as his action threatened the peace of the state by insulting a federal lawmaker on the social media network.

He further stated that Babington-Ashaye called Kashamu drugs baron and jail breaker, and asking the Senator to go to United States of America to clear the doubt about the allegation against him.

The prosecutor explained that by the accused person’s insult he had committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 249 (d) of the Criminal Code cap 29 Vol.11 laws of Ogun State of Nigeria 2006.

But Babington-Ashaye pleaded not guilty to the one count charge of breaching public peace.

His counsel, Bola Oluwole, told the court that the offence was bailable and, therefore, pleaded with the court to grant the accused person bail.
The Chief Magistrate, Oriyomi Ogunfowora, however, granted the accused bail of N250, 000 with two sureties in the like sum, while the case was adjourned till March 30, 2016.