Alleged Cyberbullying: Court grants bail to activist charged for raining curses on President
The nurse and activist Olamide Thomas remanded on charges of cyberbullying for her social media comments about President Bola Tinubu, his son Seyi Tinubu, and two top police officers’ children has been granted bail.
Penpushing reports that Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted her the bail on Monday at N10 million, with one surety, who must be a resident of Abuja with a verifiable address and must also present a three-year tax clearance certificate.
The judge in the ruling said there is no concrete evidence that the defendant will jump bail if granted and equally ordered that the defendant and his surety must submit two recent passport photographs each, however, adjourned until February 18, 2025 for commencement of trial.
Penpushing further reports that it is recalled that the judge on December 20,2024 rejected an oral bail request made by Thomas’ lawyers following her arraignment, insisting that only a formal written application for bail would be considered.
The defence team led by Seprebofa Oyeghe and J.A. Ekwe in response submitted a written bail application, which was heard in court on Monday, but the legal representatives of the police prosecution were absent during the proceedings.
Penpushing also reports that it is recalled that Thomas was arrested on December 13, 2024 in Somolu, Lagos by police over allegations of cursing and wishing death upon Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Tinubu, as well as the children of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and those of Police Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi.
The defendant live-streamed the video on her Facebook page on October 20,2024, shortly after she was reportedly brutalised by police officers during the #EndSARS memorial procession at the Lekki Tollgate.
Penpushing reports about 24-hours of her arrest, she was flown to Abuja by the police for further interrogation by the National Cyber-Crime Centre (NCCC) of the Nigerian Police and subsequent arraigned in court with three counts of cyberbullying.
The police alleged in one of the counts that Thomas, during her video transmission, made remarks in Yoruba that included placing curses on Seyi Tinubu, wishing him death, and predicting calamity for the Tinubu family within the year.
Penpushing further reports that the charge emphasised that these comments were made with intent to bully, threaten, and harass the person of Seyi Tinubu, adding that such communication places the said Seyi Tinubu in fear of death, violence, or bodily harm.
The second count in similar vein, accused Thomas of bullying, threatening, and harassing the Inspector General of Police in the same video transmission, causing him to fear death, violence, or bodily harm, while the third count, alleged that she made curses directed at the police spokesperson, claiming his children would die before his eyes and that he would bury all his children in a single day.
Penpushing also reports that the charge stated that these comments were also made with intent to bully, threaten, and harass the person of Muyiwa Adejobi, adding that such communication places him in fear of the death of his loved ones.
The prosecution said each of the three counts was contrary to and punishable under section 24 (2) (a) Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc, Amendment) Act, 2024, but the defendant pleaded not guilty to all three counts during her arraignment on December 20, 2024.
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