Justice Akintayo Aluko of a Federal High Court Lagos, today, ordered the remand of the United Kingdom-based Nigerian blogger, Maureen Omorinola Badejo, in the kirikiri facility of the Nigerian Correctional Services NCoS pending the determination of her bail application.
Justice Aluko remanded the blogger , after she pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy and defamation made against her by the operatives of the International Police Interpol of Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID) Annex Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos, in an amended charge marked FHC/L/84c/2026.
The prosecutor, Barrister Morufu Ajani Animashaun, informed the court that the blogger and others now at large, have been committed the offences since November 2021.
Specifically, Animashaun informed the court that the defendant and others now at large,
agreed to publish and transmit defamatory statements and videos through her through your YouTube channel and Facebook platforms against Apostle Johnson Suleman and Dickson Osagie.
She was further alleged to have falsely accused Apostle Johnson Suleman of having sexual relationship with one Martha, a 14 year-old girl. Adding that the Apostle was in unlawful possession of guns and ammunition without appropriate licence,
The prosecutor also accused her of portraying Apostle Johnson Suleman as a cultist, rapist, assassin, ritualist, and other criminal designations. While also alleged to have placed both apostle Suleman and Dickson in fear of death or bodily harm, by making and publishing defamatory statements on the.
The alleged illegal acts according to the prosecutor, are contrary to Sections 516, 376, 204, 408(1) and 323of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Animashaun also told the court the the acts contravene sections 24(2)(a) and 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
The blogger pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Following her not guilty plea, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date, and prayed the court to remand her in the NCoS’ custody.
But lawyers to the blogger, Dr. Owoeye leading Emefo Etudo and Charity Etudo, informed the court that they have filed their client’s bail application and same have been served on the prosecutor. The position which was affirmed by the prosecutor.
However, the prosecutor vehemently object granting of the application on the ground that the defendant is ‘flight risk’. Adding that she has been of the watchlist for some years.
Justice Aluko after listening to parties submissions on the bail application, adjourned to March 16, for ruling, while also ordered that the blogger be remanded till the determination of her bail application
Parts of the charge against the blogger read: “That you, Maureen Omorinola Badejo (F) and others now at large, sometime in the month of November, 2021, at Lagos, Nigeria, and within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit a felony to wit: defamation, by agreeing to publish and transmit defamatory statements and videos against Apostle Johnson Suleman and Dickson Osagie, and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you, Maureen Omorinola Badejo (F) and others now at large, sometime in the month of November, 2021, at Lagos, Nigeria, and within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, unlawfully published and transmitted through your YouTube channel and Facebook platform defamatory statements and videos alleging that Apostle Johnson Suleman was in unlawful possession of guns and ammunition without appropriate licence, knowing such statements to be false or not believing them to be true, and thereby committed an offence punishab – under Section 376 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you, Maureen Omorinola Badejo (F) and others now at large, sometime in the month of November, 2021, at Lagos, Nigeria, and within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, unlawfully published and transmitted through your YouTube channel and Facebook platform defamatory statements and videos alleging that Apostle Johnson Suleman had a sexual relationship with one Martha (F), aged 14 years, knowing such statements to be false or not believing them to be true, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 376 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you, Maureen Omorinola Badejo (F) and others now at large, sometime in the month of November, 2021, at Lagos, Nigeria, and within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, threatened that Apostle Johnson Suleman would enlist the assistance of Dickson Osagie to carry out assassination and other unlawful acts, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 408(1) of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you, Maureen Omorinola Badejo (F), sometime in the month of November, 2021, at Lagos, Nigeria, and within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court knowingly and intentionally transmitted through your YouTube channel and Facebook platform false and defamatory statements against Apostle Johnson Suleman and Dickson Osagie, which placed them in fear of death or bodily harm, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 24(2)(a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
“That you, MAUREEN OMORINOLA BADEJO (F) and others now at large, sometime in the month of November 2021, at Lagos, Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did unlawfully publish and transmit, via your YouTube channel and Facebook platform, defamatory statements concerning one Dickson Osagie, wherein you alleged that he was an accomplice No crimes including assassination, which statements you knew to be false or did not believe to be true, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 376 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”