Police arraign 2 tiktokers for defaming Lagos monarch

Two Tiktokers, Adesola James and Odunmosun Awiye, were arraigned by the Lagos State police for defaming Lagos Monarch.

The offenders were arraigned in a Federal High Court, Lagos State, for cyberstalking, illegal publication and defamation of character against the monarch of Ikate-Elegunshi, Oba Saheed Elegushi.

The defendants, known as Arifanla Jogun Omo Odo Agba and Okiki-OshunT, respectively, were arraigned before Justice Abimbola Awogboro on four counts bordering on conspiracy, cyberbullying and defamation.

The police prosecutor, Nosa Uhumwangho, told the court that the duo committed the offences between December 2023 and March 2024.

Uhumwangho said James and Awiye illegally and unlawfully published audible sounds through their Tiktok platform known as ‘Arifanla Jogun Omo Odo Agba.’

He also told the court that apart from using their TikTok handle to commit the offences, they also used other social media handles such as WhatsApp and Facebook.

The prosecutor further told the court that their actions caused insult, injury, criminal intimidation, hatred or needless anxiety to the monarch and the people of the Ikate Kingdom

According to the prosecutor, the offences committed are punishable under Sections 24(1)(b)(2)(a)(i) of the Cybercrimes Act, 2015, and Sections 374 and 375 of the Criminal Code Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

However, James and Awiye pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

Following their not-guilty plea, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendants till the determination of the charge.

However, the Tiktokers’ lawyers, P. O. Gongo and Elias Nwagiugwu told the court that they have filed their clients’ bail applications, which have been served on the prosecutor.

They urged the court to admit their clients to bail in the most liberal terms.

The prosecutor admitted being served with the bail applications and informed the court that he was not opposing it, but urged the court to use its discretion in granting the bail applications

Consequently, Justice Awogboro, in her ruling on the bail applications, admitted each of the two Tiktokers to bail in the sum of N100 million, with two sureties in like sum.

The judge also ordered that the sureties must be blood relations to the two defendants, who have paid three years tax, and with means of livelihood.

The judge, however, ordered that the two Tiktokers be remanded in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending when they can perfect their bail terms.

She adjourned the case till June 4 and 5, 2024, for further hearing.