Court Grants Bail to Woman Accused of Threatening Seyi Tinubu, IGP

A woman accused of threatening Seyi Tinubu and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has been granted bail by the court. Learn more about the case and court proceedings.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has approved bail for Olamide Thomas, who is accused of making death threats on social media against Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector-General of Police.

On Monday, Justice Emeka Nwite, overseeing the case, granted Thomas bail set at ₦10 million with a requirement for one surety of equivalent value.

In his decision, the judge declared that the prosecution did not provide enough evidence to indicate that the defendant would flee if bail were granted.

The charges arise from social media posts allegedly made by Thomas, which authorities assert contained threatening language.

“I have thoroughly reviewed the affidavit evidence presented by both the defendant and the complainant,” he stated.

Justice Nwite stated that if the accused person is unlikely to flee or disrupt the trial, it serves the interest of justice for the court to approve their bail request.

The judge instructed the surety to provide an affidavit of means and also directed them to submit a three-year tax clearance certificate.

He stated that the guarantor must live within the court’s jurisdiction.

Justice Nwite also instructed the defendant and their guarantor to submit two recent passport-sized photos each to the court registrar. Additionally, he mandated that the address of the guarantor be verified.

As a result, the judge postponed the proceedings until February 18 for trial.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on December 31, Justice Nwite postponed ruling on the case after hearing arguments for and against the bail application from T.J. Aondo, representing Thomas, and Victor Okoye, attorney for the prosecution.

According to NAN, Thomas was arraigned on December 20 and subsequently remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre after she pleaded not guilty to three charges brought against her by the Inspector-General of Police.

Thomas was arrested for allegedly harassing and threatening Seyi Tinubu, Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun, and Police Public Relations Officer Muyiwa Adejobi in a viral social media post.

In the case labeled FHC/ABJ/CR/636/2024, which was dated and filed on December 18 by a police legal team headed by A.A. Egwu, Olamide was named as the sole defendant.

According to NAN, in the first count, it is alleged that Olamide knowingly and intentionally shared a video recording via computer systems or networks on her social media platforms sometime in 2024. In this recording, she made remarks in Yoruba.

In the video, it was claimed that she said “Mr. Seyi Tinubu would die this year and that misfortune and calamity had struck the Tinubu family,” intending to intimidate, threaten, and harass Mr. Seyi Tinubu.

The communication reportedly made Seyi fear for their life, safety, or physical well-being.

This offense violates and is punishable under Section 24 (2) (a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act of 2024.

In the second count, it was claimed that the defendant deliberately sent a video recording in which she spoke in Yoruba to intimidate, threaten, and harass Mr. Egbetokun.

It was reported that the communication caused Egbetokun to fear for his life, fearing violence or bodily harm.

This offense violates and is punishable under Section 24 (2) (a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Amendment Act of 2024.

In the third count, Olamide was charged with deliberately sending or causing to be sent a communication in the form of a video recording. In this video, she made comments in Yoruba stating that Adejobi’s children would all perish before his eyes.

She was also quoted as saying that “he (Adejobi) will bury all his children in a single day,” with the intention of bullying, threatening, and harassing Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi.

It was reported that the message instilled in Adejobi a fear for the lives of his loved ones.

The offense reportedly violates and is punishable according to Section 24 (2) (a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act of 2024.

When the case was addressed on Monday, Thomas appeared in court and was represented by his lawyer, Seprebofa Oyeghe.