A court has declined a police request to jail a man arrested for allegedly insulting president Bola Tinubu, and the Lagos governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ogba, Lagos had rejected a request by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to remand Nigerian TikToker, Olumide Ogunsanwo, known popularly as SeaKing but instead granted him bail.
The TikToker was arrested and docked by the Lagos State Police Command over an allegation of inciting the public.
Angered by the escalating police brutality, the TikTok user urged young Nigerians to confront any officers who mistreated them.
Additionally, the user reportedly made derogatory remarks about President Bola Tinubu and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu regarding the economic difficulties faced by the people.
Piqued by the call, the Police arrested him a few hours after Force Spokesperson, Olumiyiwa Adejobi said it was cyberbullying.
However, a mild drama played out yesterday after the lawyer to the social media personality, Inibehe Effiong went to see him at the Police Command.
Effiong said he went to the State Police Command, Ikeja yesterday morning with his colleague, Jeremiah Okoro, and the wife of Seaking, who came with her six months old baby to visit him.
According to him, when police officers refused to grant them access, he proceeded to report to the Commissioner of Police, Olanrewaju Ishola.
However, while waiting to see the CP to express his grievances, Seaking was sneaked out of the custody of the CP Tactical Squad 1 where he was being held, and taken to the Ogba Magistrate’s Court for secret remand proceedings.
“Thankfully, we intercepted the information and proceeded immediately to the court premises where we met Seaking with the police officers.
“To our consternation, the Nigeria Police filed a remand application and annexed a charge to it wherein they’re accusing him of treason, cyberstalking, conduct likely to cause breach of peace and provoking breach of peace.
“They are claiming that he called on Nigerian Youths to wage war against the police. We opposed the application for remand on multiple grounds, while urging the court to refuse the application to remand him for 30 days pending Director of Public Prosecution’s (DPP) advice.
“We applied that he should be admitted to bail in line with the provisions of Section 264 (5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State.
The court considered arguments from both sides and upheld our position, and held that the police failed to show probable cause why he should be remanded for 30 days.
“The Magistrate accordingly admitted Seaking to bail on liberal terms; specifically in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum, one of the sureties should be his family member and the sureties should be resident in Lagos State and be gainfully employed.” The case was adjourned January 16, 2025 for report of DPP’s advice
