Activist arraigned for raining curses on President Tinubu denied bail
The activist, Olamide Thomas charged with cyberbullying for cursing President Bola Tinubu, Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi was on Friday arraigned in court
Penpushing reports that Thomas who is also a nurse was arraigned before Federal High Court in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on three counts of cyberbullying, but pleaded not guilty to all three charges
The judge, Justice Emeka Nwike, however, rejected the oral bail application presented by the defence team, requesting the lawyers to file a formal request, emphasizing that he would only entertain a formal, written bail application, which the prosecution would have the opportunity to reply to.
Penpushing further reports that the judge subsequently ordered the remand of the defendant, at the Correctional Centre in Suleja the neighbouring Niger State, having earlier been held for one week by the police.
The police it is recalled arrested Thomas in Somolu, Lagos State, on Friday, December 13, 2024, over allegations of cursing and wishing death upon, the children of the trio, in a live-streamed video on her Facebook page on October 20,2024
Penpushing also reports that Thomas in the video alleged being brutalized by the police during the #EndSARS memorial procession at the Lekki Tollgate, and was thereafter arrested and taken to National Cyber-Crime Centre (NCCC) of the police for interrogation and subsequent prosecution.
The accused in one of the three charges read to her in court on Friday alleged that, during her video transmission, made remarks in Yoruba that included placing curses, predicting calamity for the families of the trio.
Penpushing reports that the charge emphasied that these comments were made with intent to bully, threaten, and harass the persons, while the second count similarly accused her of bullying, threatening, and causing fear of death, violence, or bodily harm.
The police in the third count, alleged that she made curses directed at the trio claiming their children would die before their eyes and that they would bury all their children in a single day, while the charge stated that these comments were also made with intent to bully, threaten, and harass the persons
Penpushing further reports that the prosecution argued that each of the three counts was contrary to and punishable under section 24 (2) (a) Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc, Amendment) Act, 2024.
Meanwhile, the defendant was brought to court from the Muhammadu Buhari Police Hospital, Garki, Abuja where she was receiving medical treatment after she slumped in police custody on Thursday, while her lawyers agreed to file the formal bail application before the court would assign a date for hearing it, and the trial judge adjourned the matter till December 30, 2024 for commencement of trial.
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