A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Friday granted bail to 10 Ogidi Union members, Lagos branch who are currently facing trial over Cyber stalking, conspiracy and threat to life in the sum of N1 million and one surety each in like sum.
Ruling on Friday July 18 on bail application filed by the defendants after their arraignment on July 14, the trial Judge Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke ruled that in addition to the bail sum, each surety must be public servant on Grade Level 10.
“The 1st to 10th defendants / applicants are each admitted to bail in the sum of N1million with one surety in like sum.
“The sureties must be public servants in the service of the Federation or Lagos State Government not below the rank of Grade Level 10 or holders of genuine statutory Certificate of Occupancy of a developed landed property in Lagos Municipality.
“The Certified True Copy of the original statutory Certificate of Occupancy of the developed landed property is to be deposited with the Registrar of this Honourable Court, and in case of a public servant, an official letter from his /her Head of Department stating the status and salary level of the surety.
“The sureties are to produce two copies each of their recent passport photographs and evidence of payments of their tax clearance.
“The 1st to 10th defendants /applicants are to comply with these terms and conditions of their bail within 72 hours from today July 18.
” The prosecuting counsel shall within 48 hours of presentation of the Certified True Copies of the original Statutory Certificate of Occupancy or official letter from the surety’s Heads of Department endorse his confirmation or otherwise of the genuineness of such documents produced by the sureties, ” Justice Aneke ruled.
While admitting the defendants to bail, the court held that the offence allegedly committed by the defendants is bailable, adding that the law presumes that the defendants are innocent until proven otherwise during trial. He cited plethora of authorities to buttress the court’s decision on bail.
The matter was adjourned till October 8 for commencement of trial.
Recall that the Police had on Monday July 14 arraigned ten members of Lagos branch of Ogidi Union, Anambra State before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke on a five count charge bothering on conspiracy, cyber stalking and threat.
The defendants whose ages are between 37 and 65 years are eight women namely: Onyeka Udemezue, Uchenna Mbelu, Obiageli Stella Obiakor, Ogochukwu Okeke, Nkechi Okudo, Ifeoma Ikechukwu Udoh, Eucharia Agbogu, Lizzy Obianyo
and the two men are Ogochukwu Agbogu and Elochukwu Abada Okoye.
They had pleaded not guilty to the charge. The court adjourned the matter till July 18 for ruling on the bail application filed by the defendants which was not opposed by the prosecution.
When the matter was called on Friday July 18 for ruling on bail application, L.S. Oju Esq. from the Force CID Ikoyi Lagos announced appearance for the prosecution while Dan. C. Okoye Esq. leading other lawyers, appeared for all the defendants.
According to the charge marked FHC/L/888c/2024, the defendants and others still at large were alleged to have between 2023 and 2024, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, conspired amongst themselves to commit felony to wit: Cyber stalking, threat and offensive messages to the person of Mrs Uju Patricia Ibegbu through WhatsApp group platform of Women wing of Ogidi Union, Nigeria, Lagos branch which caused injury to her reputation.
It was further stated in the charge that the defendants intentionally sent the offensive messages by means of network to the WhatsApp group platform and by so doing, bullied, threatened and harassed the person of Mrs Uju Patricia Ibegbu and places her in fear of death, violence and bodily harm.
The offence allegedly committed by the defendants is punishable under Sections 24(1)(a) and (b), 24(2)(a)(i), 27(1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.)Act 2015.
The offence is also punishable under Section 518(2) of the Criminal Code Act, CAP C38, Laws of the Federation, 2024. in the sum of N1million and one surety in like sum to each of the ten members of Ogidi Union, Nigeria, Lagos branch who are facing trial over Cyber stalking, conspiracy and threat.
Ruling on Friday July 18 on bail application filed by the defendants after their arraignment on July 14, the trial Judge Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke ruled that in addition to the bail sum, each surety must be public servant on Grade Level 10.
“The 1st to 10th defendants / applicants are each admitted to bail in the sum of N1million with one surety in like sum.
“The sureties must be public servants in the service of the Federation or Lagos State Government not below the rank of Grade Level 10 or holders of genuine statutory Certificate of Occupancy of a developed landed property in Lagos Municipality.
“The Certified True Copy of the original statutory Certificate of Occupancy of the developed landed property is to be deposited with the Registrar of this Honourable Court, and in case of a public servant, an official letter from his /her Head of Department stating the status and salary level of the surety.
“The sureties are to produce two copies each of their recent passport photographs and evidence of payments of their tax clearance.
“The 1st to 10th defendants /applicants are to comply with these terms and conditions of their bail within 72 hours from today July 18.
” The prosecuting counsel shall within 48 hours of presentation of the Certified True Copies of the original Statutory Certificate of Occupancy or official letter from the surety’s Heads of Department endorse his confirmation or otherwise of the genuineness of such documents produced by the sureties, ” Justice Aneke ruled.
While admitting the defendants to bail, the court held that the offence allegedly committed by the defendants is bailable, adding that the law presumes that the defendants are innocent until proven otherwise during trial. He cited plethora of authorities to buttress the court’s decision on bail.
The matter was adjourned till October 8 for commencement of trial.
Recall that the Police had on Monday July 14 arraigned ten members of Lagos branch of Ogidi Union, Anambra State before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke on a five count charge bothering on conspiracy, cyber stalking and threat.
The defendants whose ages are between 37 and 65 years are eight women namely: Onyeka Udemezue, Uchenna Mbelu, Obiageli Stella Obiakor, Ogochukwu Okeke, Nkechi Okudo, Ifeoma Ikechukwu Udoh, Eucharia Agbogu, Lizzy Obianyo
and the two men are Ogochukwu Agbogu and Elochukwu Abada Okoye.
They had pleaded not guilty to the charge. The court adjourned the matter till July 18 for ruling on the bail application filed by the defendants which was not opposed by the prosecution.
When the matter was called on Friday July 18 for ruling on bail application, L.S. Oju Esq. from the Force CID Ikoyi Lagos announced appearance for the prosecution while Dan. C. Okoye Esq. leading other lawyers, appeared for all the defendants.
According to the charge marked FHC/L/888c/2024, the defendants and others still at large were alleged to have between 2023 and 2024, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, conspired amongst themselves to commit felony to wit: Cyber stalking, threat and offensive messages to the person of Mrs Uju Patricia Ibegbu through WhatsApp group platform of Women wing of Ogidi Union, Nigeria, Lagos branch which caused injury to her reputation.
It was further stated in the charge that the defendants intentionally sent the offensive messages by means of network to the WhatsApp group platform and by so doing, bullied, threatened and harassed the person of Mrs Uju Patricia Ibegbu and places her in fear of death, violence and bodily harm.
The offence allegedly committed by the defendants is punishable under Sections 24(1)(a) and (b), 24(2)(a)(i), 27(1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.)Act 2015.
The offence is also punishable under Section 518(2) of the Criminal Code Act, CAP C38, Laws of the Federation, 2024.
