A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday convicted and sentenced one Adun Adewale to one-year imprisonment with a N2m option of fine for cybercrime.
Justice Emeka Nwite in a judgement on Friday handed down his sentence after he pleaded guilty to one of two charges brought against him by the police.
The convict, also known as “coachbanter,” was arraigned before Justice Nwite on alleged cybercrime offences against the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
In the charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/634/2024 and filed on December 17 by A.A. Egwu, the defendant was alleged to have, sometime in 2024, intentionally circulated a video via his TikTok username “@brodabanter_backup_page” and handle “CoachBanter.”
In the video, Adewale alleged, “Police IG Egbetokun busted for colluding with a notorious cartel moving cash from CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria) vault via Abuja, Lagos airport.”
The police said the statement, which he knew to be false, was made “for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order.”
According to the police, the offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
In count two, he was also alleged to have accused Egbetokun of victimizing police officers to shield members of a cartel notorious for hauling suspicious new banknotes from the CBN. The police said the statement, also deemed false, contravenes Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
During arraignment, Adewale had, on December 20, 2024, pleaded guilty to count one of the charges against him and pleaded “guilty with reason” to count two when it was read to him by the registrar.
When Justice Nwite asked Adewale to explain his reason, the defendant stated from the dock that he was not the original author of the post, that he saw it somewhere and forwarded it to his page.
His lawyer, Olanrewaju Olaleye, then prayed the court to grant a stand-down to confer with his client which was granted by Justice Nwite, despite an objection by the Police prosecution, Victor Okoye.
When the court reconvened, Adewale’s lawyer told the court that after discussing with his client, Adewale made him know that he did not understand the charge read to him.
The lawyer therefore prayed the court to have the charge read again for his client to retake his plea but Okoye vehemently opposed the application
The judge subsequently adjourned the matter to allow the parties to address the court through written arguments on the position of the law in such an instance.
Rulling on the application on January 3, Justice Nwite agreed held that a party is not allowed to retract his plea, in a case according to the procedures of court established by the Supreme Court.
He said the accused had said he understood the charge when it was dead to him using English, a language he said he understood.
The judge added he pleaded guilty to count one and pleaded guilty with reason, to count two but only applied for a change after his lawyer’s intervention.
The prosecution, Okoye, therefore urged the court to convict Adewale on count one
Delivering judgement, Justice Nwite ordered that the sentence would commence from the date the convict was arrested. He also entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of the convict for count two of the charge.
“In view of the plea for mercy by counsel and taking cognizance of the fact that the defendant is a first-time offender, I am minded to temper justice with mercy,” Justice Nwite stated.
Justice Nwite subsequently fixed March 18 for the commencement of the trial on count two.
TikTok User Jailed Over Post Against IGP Egbetokun is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
Source: The Whistler
