Kunle Adelabu
-To submit international passport to court
The Chief Executive Officer, Western Home Funeral Limited and former Chairmanship aspirant for Ijede Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Ikorodu Division of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, Mr Oluwatosin Onamade, has finally appeared before the Federal High Court on Thursday, February 18, 2022, to enter his plea over the charges leveled against him by the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
He appeared before Honourable Justice Ayokunle Faji who is presiding over the matter.
Onamade, who is the Defendant in the Suit No: FHC/1/32C/2021, instituted by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) last year with two Count charges allegedly in contravention of Section 24 and 24 (2) (a) of the Cybercrimes act, 2015.
The Defendant, who appeared in court indisposed, pleaded not guilty to both charges instituted against him by the IGP before the judge adjourned the matter to March, 2022..
The charges reads:
“That you, Oluwatosin Onamade ‘M’, sometime in May 2021 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did commit an illegal act to wit; intentionally circulating a grossly offensive publication through your Facebook/Instagram handle which you knew to be false, for the purpose of causing insult to one Hon. Fathiu Salisu, former Chairman of Ijede LCDA Chairman by accusing him of the murder of late Tony Godfrey, you, thereby, committed an offence punishable under section 24 of the Cyber Crimes Act, 2015.
“That you, Oluwatosin Onamade ‘M’, sometime in May 2021 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, knowingly caused the transmission of communication through your WhatsApp to harass one Hon. Fathiu Salisu, Ijede LCDA Chairman by falsely alleging that he sponsored the attack on the Western Funeral Home Limited office and murdered late Tony Godfrey, you, thereby, committed an offence punishable under section 24 (2) (a) of the Cybercrimes Act, 2015”.
The first count carries a fine of not more than N7,000,000.00 or imprisonment for a term of not more than three years or both while the second charge carries imprisonment for a term of 10 years and/or a minimum fine of N25,000,000.00.
Justice Faji, who did not entertain argument on the on the bail application by the Defense lawyer because of Onamade’s health challenge, ordered that the Defense lawyer will continue to make his client available in court when needed.
He added that the Defendant will continue to enjoy the administrative bail granted him by the police but that he must fulfill all necessary conditions.
“In addition, the Defendant will continue with administrative bail granted by the police who shall be at liberty to arrest and take custody of the defendant should the said bail be breached”, the Judge ordered.
“The Defendant shall submit his international passport to this court within 48 hours”.
“This matter is adjourned till 8th of March for the issue of bail”, he said.
Lawyer to Onamade, Mr Olatunji Oshikoya, had tendered receipt and drug details from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, to prove that his client was unable to appear before the court on Wednesday, February 16, 2022, because he was admitted in the hospital.
Oshikoya, while addressing the court, said that he discovered, after the Wednesday court sitting, that Mr Onamade was sick and admitted at the hospital.
He also gave further pledge that the Defendant will be produced in court whenever he is to appear.
The prosecution counsel, Mr Victor Okoye, had told the presiding Judge to allow the charge to be read to the defendant so that he can take his plea.
He also said that the Defense lawyer failed to inform the court on Wednesday that his client was admitted in the hospital.
