The Nigerian police on Friday arraigned Olamide Abiodun Thomas, a human rights activist, on three criminal charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The charges centre on allegations that Olamide Thomas insulted the President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi and top police officials, including Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun and Police Public Relations Officer Muyiwa Adejobi, in a viral social media post.
The case, with suit number F/HE/ARS/CR/636/2024, lists the Inspector General of Police as the complainant.
Presiding over the matter, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered Olamide to be remanded in prison following her arraignment on Friday.
The activist was arrested last week ago and has since been in police custody.
One of the counts reads, “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.”
Count 2 reads, “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 to bully, threaten, harass the person of Mr. Kayode Egbetokun where such communication places the said Mr Kayode Egbetokun in fear of death, violence or bodily harm and you therefore commit an offence contrary to and punishable under section 24(2) (a) Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.”
The third count accused her of also insulting Adejobi.
Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, remanded Olamide Thomas at the Suleja Custodial Centre of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS).
Thomas, who had been in police detention for nearly one week now, was hurriedly arraigned before Justice Nwite.
SaharaReporters gathered that Justice Nwite after the charges were read denied her bail, insisting that her lawyers should bring formal bail application before court.
“Justice Nwite rejected our oral application for her bail. She is sent to Suleja prison and said that our lawyers should apply for bail and come back,” an activist told SaharaReporters shortly after the court proceeding.
Meanwhile, Take It Back (TIB) Movement has condemned the continued repression of Thomas, demanding her immediate release.