Court Grants N10m Bail To Woman Who Allegedly Threatened Seyi Tinubu, IGP

Olamide Thomas, a Nigerian woman accused of threatening Seyi Tinubu and the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, with a death threat on social media, has been granted N10 million bail by Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court in Abuja.

The court determined that she must additionally give one surety in the same sum.

While delivering decision on her bail application, the judge stated that there was no specific proof presented by the prosecution that the defendant would jump bail.

“I have carefully examined the affidavit evidence of both the defendant and the complainant,” he said.

Justice Nwite found that where the accused individual would not jump bail or interfere with the trial, it is in the interest of justice for the court to accept the bail request. The judge, who ordered the surety to depose to an affidavit of means, also asked the surety to provide a three-year tax clearance certificate.

He stated that the surety must live within the jurisdiction of the court.

Justice Nwite further ordered the defendant and surety to deposit two recent passport photographs with the registrar of the court, and the surety’s address to be verified.

As a result, the judge set the trial date for February 18. On December 31, Justice Nwite deferred the case for a ruling after T.J. Aondo, who represented Thomas, and Victor Okoye, the prosecution’s counsel, gave their comments for and against the bail motion. On December 20, Thomas was arraigned and remanded in Suleja Correctional Centre after pleading not guilty to the three-count charge presented against her by the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police.

Thomas was detained on charges of harassing and threatening Seyi Tinubu, the I-G, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, through a viral social media post.

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Nnamdi Okoli