By CHIDINMA EWUNONU-ALUKO

Two church members were docked in an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan on Monday for alleged defamation.

The police charged Tofunmi Oluwaseun, 21, and Ibikunle Akanbi, 46, who attend Faith and Miracle International church, Ibadan with conspiracy, defamation and conduct likely to cause the breach of peace.

They pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Prosecutor, Insp Adeshina Folaranmi told the court that the defendants committed the offence on Oct.2, at about 1.21 p.m., at Awotan, Ibadan.

Folaranmi alleged that the defendants published a defamatory statement on Whatsapp, Instagram and Facebook against their pastor, Gbemiga David.

He alleged that the defendants’ aim was to tarnish the pastors image and that of the church.

The prosecutor said the defendants also conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause the breach of peace by calling the pastor a mad man and alleging that people used to die in his church.

He said the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 516, 375 and 249(d) of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

Counsel to Oluwaseun, Mr Olayinka Tope and that of Akanbi, Mr Dotun Akinsanmi appealed that the bail be granted to them in the most liberal terms.

Magistrate Oluwabusayo Osho therefore admitted the defendants to be bail in the sum of N500,000 each and two sureties each in like sum.

Osho adjourned the case until Jan. 29, 2026, for hearing. (NAN)