Olamide Thomas, a lady who allegedly used social media to threaten Seyi Tinubu with death, was arraigned at a Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday.
Olamide was charged with three counts and arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite by the office of Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun.
But she entered a not guilty plea to the accusation.
In a widely shared social media post, Olamide allegedly threatened and harassed Seyi Tinubu, Egbetokun, and the Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, leading to his detention, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Olamide was sued as the lone defendant in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/636/2024, dated and filed on December 18 by the police team of attorneys under the direction of A.A. Egwu.
Victor Okoye, who represented the police, told the court that he was prepared to move forward with the arraignment when the session resumed.
The defendant entered a not guilty plea to the charge after being read the charges.
T. J. Aondo, SAN, the defense attorney, attempted to file an oral application on behalf of his client, but the request
Aondo was instructed by Justice Nwite to submit a formal bail application, and the case was postponed until December 30 in order to start the trial.
However, the judge gave the defense attorney the assurance that the court would not hesitate to hear a bail application as soon as it was submitted as a motion on notice.
As a result, he mandated that she be placed on remand at Suleja Correctional Center until her bail application was considered.
According to NAN, Olamide was accused in count one of purposefully and deliberately using a computer system or network to transmit communication in the form of video recording on her social media platforms sometime in 2024, where she made comments in Yoruba.
She was accused in the video of saying, “with intent to bully, threaten, and harass the person of Mr. Seyi Tinubu, that Mr. Seyi Tinubu would die this year, that tragedy and calamity had befallen the Tinubu family.”
According to reports, the communication made Seyi fearful of violence, death, or physical damage.
Section 24(2)(a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024, prohibits and punishes the offense.
The second count accused the defendant of purposefully sending a video clip in which she made statements in Yoruba to harass, intimidate, and threaten Mr. Egbetokun.
There were claims that the communication made Egbetokun fearful of violence, death, or physical damage.
According to Section 24(2)(a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024, the offense is prohibited and penalized.
Olamide was charged in count three with purposefully distributing or inducing the transmission of communication in the form of a video clip in which she said in Yoruba that Adejobi’s children will all perish in front of him.
“He (Adejobi) will bury all his children in a single day, with intent to torment, threaten, and harass the person of Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi,” she reportedly added.
Adejobi reportedly became afraid that his loved ones might die as a result of the conversation.
According to Section 24(2)(a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024, the offense is against the law and is penalized by it. (NAN)