The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted bail to social media influencer and blogger, Justice Chidiebere, popularly known as Justice Crack, in the sum of N5 million over alleged cybercrime offences linked to viral videos about the welfare of Nigerian soldiers.
Justice Crack was arraigned by the State Security Service on May 4 on a three-count charge bordering on alleged cybercrime, breach of public peace, and felony.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Delivering ruling on Monday, trial judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, admitted the defendant to bail to enable him stand trial.
The court ordered that the bail be backed by one surety who must reside within the court’s jurisdiction at a verifiable address for at least four years.
Justice Abdulmalik further ruled that the surety must provide proof of residence through either a tenancy agreement or certificate of occupancy and deposit the documents with the court registry.
The judge also stipulated that the surety must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 15, provide evidence of salary payment for at least three months, present a letter of authentication from the head of department, and show proof of pensionable employment.
In addition, the surety was directed to swear an affidavit of means and submit a recent passport photograph, while the defendant was ordered to surrender his international passport to the court.
Justice Crack’s arrest followed viral videos he reportedly posted online highlighting concerns over the welfare and feeding conditions of Nigerian troops deployed to conflict zones.
During proceedings, the prosecution, led by M.L. Jackson, presented its first witness, an SSS operative, Uruntu Douglas, who narrated how the agency became involved in the investigation.
“The case was transferred to the SSS from the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps,” Douglas told the court.
He stated that the defendant made a statement voluntarily in the presence of his legal representatives.
According to the witness, soldiers allegedly supplied images to the defendant, who then converted them into videos and posted them online without verifying their authenticity.
Douglas also told the court that forensic examination of the defendant’s phone uncovered videos allegedly shared on social media, chats with some soldiers, conversations with a godfather allegedly connected to planned protests, and other materials linked to his online activities.
“A certificate of compliance was issued and signed by a senior officer after forensic analysis,” the witness said.
However, defence counsel, Sam Amadi, faulted the prosecution for failing to provide the defence team with the investigation report and other documents intended for use during trial.
Responding, the prosecution described the omission as an oversight and apologised to the court.
The court subsequently admitted the SSS investigation report as evidence, marked Exhibit A.
Prosecutors also tendered an iPhone allegedly recovered from the defendant, a flash drive said to contain videos posted online, extracted conversations, and a certificate of compliance.
But the defence objected to the admissibility of the flash drive, arguing that its contents had neither been played nor properly demonstrated before the court.
Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case till May 25 for continuation of trial.
