Court grants N10m bail to activist charged for ‘insulting’ Seyi Tinubu, Egbetokun on Facebook

A federal high court in Abuja has granted N10 million bail to Olamide Thomas, an activist charged with vitriolic social media comments against Seyi Tinubu. 

Thomas was also asked to produce one surety in like sum.

In a ruling delivered on Monday, Emeka Nwite, presiding judge, held that there was no concrete evidence before the court that the defendant would jump bail or interfere with trial.

“I have carefully examined the affidavit evidence of both the defendant and the complainant,” he said.

The judge, who ordered the surety to depose an affidavit of means, also directed the surety to present a three-year tax clearance certificate.

He said the surety must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

Nwite also ordered the defendant and the surety to deposit two recent passport photographs with the registrar of the court. He also ruled that the address of the surety should be verified.

The judge consequently adjourned the case to February 18 for trial.

THE ARREST

On December 13, the activist, who is also a nurse, was arrested in Lagos over allegations of cyberbullying.

She was accused of insulting Tinubu’s son, Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police (IGP); and Muyiwa Adejobi, the force spokesperson, in a Facebook video recorded after the police arrested her on October 20, 2024.

The activist was among the protesters arrested by the police during the rally to commemorate the fourth anniversary of #EndSARS demonstration at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos.

After her arrest in Lagos, she was taken to Abuja.

THE CHARGE

The police accused Thomas of sharing a video on social media in which she stated that “Mr Seyi Tinubu will die this year”.

“That you OLAMIDE ABIODUN THOMAS ‘F’, sometime in 2024, in the Federal Republic of Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did knowingly and intentionally transmit or cause the transmission of communication in the form of video recording through computer system or network on your Social media platforms wherein you made remarks in Yoruba language stating that Mr. Seyi Tinubu will die this year, and misfortune and calamity has befallen the Tinubu family, with intent to bully, threaten, harass the person of Mr. Seyi Tinubu, where such communication places the said Mr. Seyi Tinubu in fear of death, violence or bodily harm and you thereby commit an offence contrary to and punishable under section 24 (2) (a) Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024,” the first count reads.

In the second count, the police accused Thomas of threatening and bullying Egbetokun. 

In the third count, the police accused the activist of saying that Adejobi’s children would die before his eyes.

The activist was arraigned on a three-count charge on December 20.