On Monday, a bail application filed by counsel to Olamide Thomas, accused of threatening President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi, on social media, was stalled in the Federal High Court, Abuja Division.
This happened when Seprebofa Oyeghe, the lawyer who appeared for Ms Thomas, told Justice Emeka Nwite that the matter was adjourned for his client’s bail application to be taken.
The inspector general of police’s lawyer, Victor Okoye, told the court that he had just seen the bail application and would need time to respond. He asked the court to adjourn the matter until Tuesday to enable him to respond appropriately.
Mr Oyeghe disagreed with Mr Okoye.
The lawyer recalled that on December 20, when Ms Thomas was arraigned, the court adjourned the matter for trial and the hearing of her bail as soon as the motion was filed.
He said the defence ensured that the bail application was filed the same day, December 20, and served on the police. The lawyer said he was surprised by Mr Okoye’s submission.
Mr Nwite, however, confirmed the proof of service of the bail application on the police from the court record.
“In the court record, there is the endorsement of the bail processes by the police. The persons that receive processes in your office, do they differ from those who handle the matters? Because from the endorsement here, it shows it was given on the 20th day of December, and today is the 30th of December,” the judge asked.
“My lord, I didn’t see it. I am just seeing it this morning,” he responded.
“How do we reconcile this?” the judge stated.
Mr Okoye, however, begged the court to adjourn the matter until the next day to file his counter-affidavit.
Mr Oyeghe, reluctantly, conceded to the prosecution’s application.
Meanwhile, Ms Thomas, yet to be brought to court by the officers of the Suleja Correctional Centre, arrived at the court and walked into the dock.
Mr Nwite adjourned the matter until Tuesday for the bail application and trial of Ms Thomas.
Attacks on Nigerian citizens arising from their social media comments have intensified under President Bola Tinubu, who rose to power promising to respect Nigerians’ fundamental freedoms to depart from his predecessor Muhammadu Buhari, who was infamous for cracking down on human rights throughout his eight years in power between 2015 and 2023.
