Police Arraign 2 For Defaming Oba Elegushi

Police from State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti-Yaba, Lagos, Tuesday, arraigned two men, Adesola James and Odunmosun Azeez Awiye, before the Federal High Court, Lagos for cyberbullying Lagos popular monarch, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi, Kusenla 111.

The two defendants, who are known on Tik Tok, a microblogging platform, as Arifanla Jogun Omo Odo Agba and Okiki-Oshun T respectively, were arraigned before Justice Abimbola Awogboro on four-count charge of conspiracy, cyberbullying and defamation.

The two defendants, according to the prosecutor, Mr. Nosa Walter Uhumwangho, committed the alleged offenses between December 2023 and March 2024.

Uhumwangho told the court that the two defendants illegally and unlawfully published by audible sounds and same exhibiting through their TikTok platform known as “Arifanla Jogun Omo Odo Agba.

The prosecutor told the court that apart from using their TikTok handle to commit the offences, they also used other social media handles such as WhatsApp and Facebook to carry out the offences.

He said their actions caused the monarch and the people of Ikate Kingdom insult, injury, criminal intimidation, hatred or needless anxiety.

Uhumwangho told the court that the defendants actions, contravened sections 24(1)(b)(2)(a)(i) of the Cybercrimes (prohibition, prevention, ETC) Act, 2015. And sections Section 374 and punishable under Section 375 of the Criminal Code Cap C.38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The two accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following their not guilty plea, the prosecutor, asked the court for trial date, as well, urged the court to remand the defendants till the determination of the charges.

However, the two defendants’ lawyer, Messrs P. O. Gongo and Elias Nwagiugwu, told the court that they have filed their clients bail applications, and same have been served on the prosecutor.

They urged the court to admit their clients to bail in the most liberal terms.

The prosecutor admitted being served with the bail applications, and informed the court that he is not opposing it. But urged the court to use its discretion in granting the bail applications

Justice Awogboro in her ruling on the bail applications, admitted each of the two Tiktokers to bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties in like sum.

The judge also ordered that the sureties must be be blood relation to the two defendants, who have paid three years tax, with means of livelihood.

The judge however ordered that the two Tiktokers are to be remanded in Ikoyi Center of the Nigerian Correctional Services, Lagos, till the perfection of their bail terms.

Further hearing of the charge has been adjourned to 4 and 5 June.

Charges Against The Tiktokers Read: “that you, Adesola James ‘m’, and others at large between the month of December 2023 and March 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, did illegally and unlawfully published by audible sounds and same exhibiting through your TIKTOK platform known as “ARIFANLA JOGUN OMO ODO AGBA’, a social network with the intention of a menacing character which is grossly offensive, false, indecent, obscene for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience danger obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, hatred or needless anxiety to the prejudice of His Royal Highness, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi, the Elegushi of Ikate Kingdom, Kusenla Il! and the people of kate Kingdom in Lagos State and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24(1)(b)(2)(a)(i) of the Cybercrimes (prohibition, prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.

“That you, Odunmosu Azeez Awiye ‘m’, and others at large between the month of December 2023 and March 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, did illegally and unlawfully published by audible sounds and same exhibiting through your TIKTOK platform known as “OKIKI-OSHUNT”, a social network with the intention of a menacing character which is grossly offensive, false, indecent, obscene for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience danger obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, hatred or needless anxiety to the prejudice of His Royal Highness, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi, the Elegushi of Ikate Kingdom, Kusenla III and the people of Ikate Kingdom in Lagos State and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24(1)(b)(2)(a)(i) of the Cybercrimes (prohibition, prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.

“That you, Adesola James ‘m’ and others at large between the month of December 2023 and March 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, did publish defamatory matters in your TIKTOK platform known as “ARIFANLA JOGUN OMO ODO AGBA’, a social network and which have been circulated and reported on other several social media platforms, including but not limited to facebook, Tiktok and Whatsapp, a publication you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 374 and punishable under Section 375 of the Criminal Code Cap C.38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

“That you, Odunmosu Azeez Awiye ‘m’ and others at large between the month of December 2023 and March 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, did publish defamatory matters in your TIKTOK platform known as “OKIKI-OSHUNT’, a social network and which have been circulated and reported on other several social media platforms, including but not limited to facebook, Tiktok and Whatsapp, a publication you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 374 and punishable under Section 375 of the Criminal Code Cap C ’38’ Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”