Justice Mark Chidiebere, often known as “Justice Crack,” is an activist and social media commentator who was granted N5 million in bail by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In her decision regarding the bail application, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik mandated that the bail bond be secured by a single surety in an equivalent amount.
According to the court’s ruling, the proposed surety must live within the court’s jurisdiction for a minimum of four years at a fixed address and provide documentation of their residency at the court registry, such as a rental agreement or certificate of occupancy.
Additionally, the guarantor must be a federal public worker who is at least grade level 15, have proof of pensionable employment, a letter of authentication from the immediate head of department, and at least three months’ worth of salary.
The defendant must deposit his international passport with the court, and the surety must provide an affidavit of means and a recent passport photo.
M.L. Jackson, the prosecution’s attorney, had earlier told the court that the prosecution was prepared to start the trial.
Uruntu Douglas, a DSS agent and the first prosecution witness, told the court that he became acquainted with the defendant during investigations following his transfer from the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps to the DSS.
According to the witness, the defendant willingly gave an extrajudicial statement that was recorded while his attorneys were there.
The witness claimed that the defendant received photos from soldiers, created movies from them, and shared them on social media without verifying the veracity of the military sources.
He also informed the court that detectives had taken information from the defendant’s phone, including purportedly uploaded videos, discussions between the defendant and a few troops, reportedly protest-related contacts with his godfather, and passages from his social media accounts.
The witness further stated that following the completion of the forensic procedure, a superior officer produced and signed a certificate of compliance.
According to the witness, the defendant willingly gave an extrajudicial statement that was recorded while his attorneys were there.
The witness claimed that the defendant received photos from soldiers, created movies from them, and shared them on social media without verifying the veracity of the military sources.
He also informed the court that detectives had taken information from the defendant’s phone, including purportedly uploaded videos, discussions between the defendant and a few troops, reportedly protest-related contacts with his godfather, and passages from his social media accounts.
The witness further stated that following the completion of the forensic procedure, a superior officer produced and signed a certificate of compliance.
Sam Amadi, the defense attorney, told the court during the hearings that the investigation report and other papers that the prosecution had requested to be submitted had not been delivered to the defense.
The prosecution also presented the certificate of compliance, an iPhone that was purportedly retrieved from the defendant, and a flash drive that allegedly contained chats taken from the device and films shared on social media.
The defense challenged the flash drive’s admission, claiming that its contents had not been played or disclosed in front of the court.
The first prosecution witness has not yet been released, and the case has been postponed until May 25 in order to continue the trial.The court.
The DSS investigation report was later admitted as Exhibit A by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
About The Author
