Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday granted N10m bail to a woman, Olamide Thomas, who was accused of allegedly using her social media platform to make death threats against President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi and the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun.
The court granted her the bail with one surety in like sum.
The judge, while ruling on the bail application, said there was not enough evidence to suggest to the court that the defendant would jump bail.
Nwite said, “I have carefully examined the affidavit evidence of both the defendant and the complainant. The defendant would not jump bail nor interfere with the trial, it is in the interest of justice for the court to grant the bail request.”
The judge also ordered the surety to provide an affidavit of means and a three-year tax clearance certificate and to be a resident within the court’s jurisdiction.
Justice Nwite also ordered the surety and the defendant to deposit two recent passport photographs with the court’s registrar, and the surety’s address to be verified.
The case was adjourned till February 18, 2025, for the commencement of trial.
Justice Nwite had on December 31, 2024, adjourned the case for ruling, following the defendant’s counsel, T.J . Anondo’s arguments on the bail and the prosecutor’s submission, Victor Okoye.
Thomas was arraigned on December 20, 2024, and remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre, following her pleading not guilty to three counts brought against her by the Inspector General of Police.
The defendant is facing three counts bordering on harassing and threatening Seyi, the IG and the Police Public Relations Officer Muyiwa Adejobi, in a viral social media post.
She was arrested following the viral social media post.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/636/2024, dated and filed on December 18, 2024, the police alleged that the defendant sometime in 2024, knowingly and intentionally, translated in the form of a video recording through her computer or network in her social media handle wherein she made remarks in Yoruba Language.
In the video, the police alleged that she said,” Seyi Tinubu would die this year, and misfortune and calamity have befallen the Tinubu family.”
The police also told the court that the communication placed Seyi in fear of death, violence or bodily harm.
The police alleged that the defendant intentionally transmitted the communication in the form of video recording, where she made remarks in the Yoruba Language to bully and harass the IG.
The prosecutor told the court that the communication placed the IG in fear of death, violence or bodily harm.
Thomas was further accused of intentionally transmitting or causing the transmission of communication in the form of a video recording and made remarks in Yoruba Language that Adejobi’s children would all die before his eyes.
She was also quoted to have said,” That Adejobi would bury all his children in one day, with intent to bully and harass Adejobi.”
According to the prosecutor, the offences committed contravened Sections 24 (2),( a) of the Cybercrimes Prohibition, prevention amended Act 2024.
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