The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail in the sum of N5 million to activist and social media commentator, Justice Chidiebere, popularly known as Justice Crack, over alleged cybercrime offences.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that the bail must be backed by one surety in like sum.
The court ordered that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction at a fixed address for at least four years and provide proof of residence through either a tenancy agreement or certificate of occupancy deposited at the court registry.
Justice Abdulmalik further ruled that the surety must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 15, with evidence of at least three months’ salary, a letter of authentication from the immediate head of department, proof of pensionable employment, an affidavit of means, and a recent passport photograph.
The defendant was also directed to deposit his international passport with the court.
Earlier, prosecution counsel, M.L. Jackson, informed the court that the prosecution was ready to proceed with trial.
The first prosecution witness, Uruntu Douglas, a Department of State Services operative, told the court that the defendant came under investigation after he was transferred to the DSS by the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps.
According to the witness, the defendant voluntarily made an extra-judicial statement in the presence of his lawyers.
Douglas alleged that soldiers had sent pictures to the defendant, who then produced videos from the images and posted them on social media without verifying the authenticity of the materials with military authorities.
He also told the court that investigators extracted data from the defendant’s phone, including videos allegedly uploaded online, conversations with some soldiers, chats with his alleged godfather discussing protests, and excerpts from his social media accounts.
The witness added that a certificate of compliance was issued and signed by a superior officer after the forensic examination was completed.
During the proceedings, defence counsel, Sam Amadi, informed the court that the defence had not been served with the investigation report and other documents the prosecution sought to tender.
The prosecution, however, described the omission as an oversight and apologised to the court.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently admitted the DSS investigation report as Exhibit A.
The prosecution also tendered an iPhone allegedly recovered from the defendant, a flash drive said to contain videos posted on social media, extracted conversations from the device, and a certificate of compliance.
The defence objected to the admissibility of the flash drive, arguing that its contents had neither been described nor played in open court.
The matter was adjourned until May 25 for continuation of trial, while the first prosecution witness remains under examination.