A Federal High Court, Lagos has remanded a blogger and former member of Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries (MFM), Ayotunde Richards and Adewale Ajimisigbe at the Ikoyi Custodial Centre for alleged cyber-bullying and libel.
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa remanded the duo after their arraignment and non guilty pleas, pending when their bail applications would be heard and determined.
They were arraigned on 12 count-charge of conspiracy, cyber-bullying and libel.
The defendants were jointly charged on three-count charge of conspiracy to commit felony to wit: cyberstalking, libel and and defamation, while the blogger, Richard, was slammed with nine-count charge of defamation.
The prosecutor, Nosa Waltson Uhumwangho, while arraigning the defendants told the court that they committed the offences between December 2023 and February 2024.
He said that the defendants through a blogging platform named: ‘Postreporters’, a social network, made a report with the caption: “He is a criminal and behind all illegal acts–Ex-MFM church singer sues founder, Daniel Olukoya, others, seeks N15.5 billion in damages over illegal detention, breach of human rights.”
The prosecutor also alleged that the blogger also wrote in another social media platform, “Moment of Truth” a social network which was captioned: “Daniel Olukoya, the Police Pastor’ “Mountain of Police and Alagbon Ministries”, “A powerless clergy who depends on Ayoleyi Tawose to deal with his perceived enemies”.
The blogger was also alleged to have written on the “moment of the truth”, his social platform that the MFM General Overseer, lied to his former RCCG Pastor to flush him out of the church and that “he doesn’t behave like a Pastor at all” and many others.
The prosecutor said their offences contravened the provision of Sections 27 and 24(1)(b)(2)(a)(i) of the Cybercrimes (prohibition, prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under the same Act.
Following their not guilty plea, the prosecutor asked for a trial date and prayed the court to remand them in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), pending when their bail applications will be heard and determined.
But the defendants’ counsel, Sesi Hundeyin, pleaded with the court for a short date to bring his clients’ bail applications.
He also prayed the court to remand his client in the police custody, till when their bail applications will be heard.
His request was opposed by the prosecutor on the ground that the police remand facility is over stretched.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa, therefore, adjourned to March 21, for hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendants be remanded in NCoS’ custody.
