A magistrate court in Lagos State denied the police its wish to remand Olumide Ogunsanwo, a TikToker known as “Sea King“, for 30 days ahead of the conclusion of its investigation on Monday.
Inibehe Effiong, his lawyer, told FIJ on Monday that the police were accusing Ogunsanwo of treason, cybercrime and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.
He said the court also granted the TikToker a N500,000 bail on liberal terms with two sureties in like sum.
READ ALSO: CONFIRMED: IGP Ordered Rights Activist Abiodun Thomas’ Arrest, Detention Because She ‘Cursed’ Seyi Tinubu
“The police just filed a remand application and attached all manners of frivolous charge against him. But the court rejected the application for him to be remanded for 30 days,” the lawyer told FIJ.
“With regards to remand application, the police can say they are not ready to prosecute yet. They will then file an application for someone to be remanded pending investigation or pending when the Ministry of Justice, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), will look at the file to determine what should happen.
“They said they wanted the DPP to review the case because of the seriousness, but I opposed that on many grounds and the court upheld our argument (and) said the police had no probable cause and rejected their demand application
“The court also admitted him to bail with the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties is a family member and gainfully employed. He has been remanded in Kirikiri pending when the bail conditions are met.”
READ ALSO: FACT-CHECK: ‘Raining Direct Curses Online’ Not Punishable by Law
Ogunsanwo’s arrest surfaced on social media on Saturday, accompanied by circulating videos of the arrest. It was linked to TikTok videos in which he directed curses at President Bola Tinubu and Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Man was arrested a few hours after insụlting Tinubu and Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo Olu😳🙆 pic.twitter.com/VU47vv52b5— CHUKS 🍥 (@ChuksEricE) December 21, 2024
Chuks Eric, an X user who made a post about his arrest on Saturday, wrote, “Man arrested a few hours after insulting Tinubu and Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo Olu.”
Another video showed him urging Nigerian youths to retaliate whenever police officers harass them or exhibit any form of brutality.
The TikToker’s arrest coupled with the detention of Abiodun Thomas, a rights activist and social media user who was earlier arrested for cursing Seyi Tinubu, the president’s son, as well as Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police, and police force spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi, has made some Nigerians comment that Nigeria’s democracy is gradually turning into a dictatorial rule where freedom of speech is cuffed by arbitrary arrests.
The post Court Denies Police’s Wish to Detain TikToker ‘Sea King’ for Treason, Cybercrime appeared first on Foundation For Investigative Journalism.