The first count of three charges against Rights activist Olamide Abiodun Thomas is about a curse against Seyi Tinubu, the president’s son, FIJ has confirmed.
Policemen under the orders of Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), arrested Thomas in Lagos State on December 13. She was subsequently moved to Abuja for prosecution. A Federal High Court in Abuja remanded her in the Suleja Custodial Centre on Friday.
A court document obtained by FIJ and dated December 18 reveals that the IGP is charging the activist for some video recordings shared on her social media platforms containing “threatening” remarks against himself as well as Seyi Tinubu and Muyiwa Adejobi, the police force spokesperson.
READ MORE: Police ‘Hurriedly’ Arraign Rights Activist Detained on IGP’s Orders in Abuja Court
Count 1 of the charge reads: “That you OLAMIDE ABIODUN THOMAS ‘F’, sometime in 2024, in the Federal Republic of Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did knowingly and intentionally transmit or cause the transmission of communication in the form of video recording through computer system or network on your Social media platforms wherein you made remarks in Yoruba language stating that Mr Seyi Tinubu will die this year, and misfortune and calamity has befallen the Tinubu family, with intent to bully, threaten, harass the person of Mr Seyi Tinubu, where such communication places the said Mr Seyi Tinubu in fear of death, violence or bodily harm and you thereby commit an offence contrary to and punishable under section 24 (2) (a) Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.”
READ MORE: Abiodun Thomas, Rights Activist Detained on IGP’s Orders, Faints in Police Custody
In the second count, Thomas is accused of making similar threatening remarks in Yoruba language in a video recording directed at IGP Egbetokun. This count equally claims that her statements were intended to “bully, threaten, harass the person of Mr Kayode Egbetokun, where such communication places the said [him] in fear of death, violence or bodily harm”.
The third count claims that Thomas stated in a video recording as well that the police spokesperson’s children will “all die before his eyes, and he will bury all his children in a single day”. It was also stated that her statements were intended “to bully, threaten, harass” Adejobi and put him in fear of the death of his loved ones.
Like the first charge, the IGP linked the second and third charges to an offence contrary to and punishable under section 24 (2) (a) Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
READ ALSO: FACT-CHECK: ‘Raining Direct Curses Online’ Not Punishable by Law
When the police spokesperson made a post on X on Friday to address Thomas’ detention, he wrote, “Raining direct curses on someone online is cyberbullying, not expression of freedom or criticism. And cyberbullying, which is even different from defamation, is a criminal offence and punishable. Be guided.”
FIJ found Adejobi’s claim — that “raining direct curses online” is an act of cyberbullying and an offence punishable by law — to be false.
FIJ traced Adejobi’s claim to Section 24(1) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 and found that the specific provision that could have supported Adejobi’s assertion had been amended in the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2024. This amendment was made due to the section’s repeated misuse to target and harass journalists, government critics and opposition, among others.
Meanwhile, Thomas’ case has attracted different reactions, with some Nigerians calling for accountability for harmful online behaviour, while others view the charges as an attempt to stifle freedom of speech and activism.
The post CONFIRMED: IGP Ordered Rights Activist Abiodun Thomas’ Arrest, Detention Because She ‘Cursed’ Seyi Tinubu appeared first on Foundation For Investigative Journalism.