Nigerian singer Johnson Oyindamola, popularly known as Dammy Krane, who was arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court sitting in Igbosere, Lagos State, has been granted bail in the sum of N50,000.
The singer was docked on three counts bordering on conspiracy, threat to life, defamation, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, proffered against him by the police.
He was said to have threatened the lives of staff members of betting company, Merrybet Gold Limited, on July 29, 2019, and also released a song in which he accused the firm of breach of contract.
According to the prosecutor, Inspector J.I Enang, the defendant (Dammy Krane) attended a game show sponsored by the betting company, but lost.
He was, however, said to have demanded some money for appearing on the show but the firm disagreed, insisting that the sum was only given to winners.
The embittered musician subsequently announced via radio that the betting firm owed him money and breached a contractual agreement.
“Oyindamola and others at large on July 29, 2019, at Cool FM in Lagos, conspired with others at large to commit felony to wit: Conduct likely to cause breach of peace and threat to life.
“Oyindamola and others at large on the same date, time and place, threatened the life of the staff of Merrybet Gold Limited,” the prosecutor said.
According to him, the offences committed are punishable under Sections 301, 411 and 168 (d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
However, the 27-year-old defendant pleaded not guilty to the three counts against him.
Thereafter, his counsel, Mr Adebayo Oniyelu, urged the court to grant him bail in liberal terms, saying that he is a first-time offender.
Oniyelu, also assured the court that he would be available whenever he is needed.
He said, “We humbly apply for the bail of the defendant, Section 35 (5), states that an accused person is still presumed innocent until proven guilty.”
“He is a well-known and a popular musician, if granted bail, he would be made available. He has been in police custody since Friday 13, September”.
In his response, Enang said he was going to oppose the bail, describing the offence as a national issue.
Meanwhile, one of the company’s representatives, Mr Otemu Anaonye, maintained that the company is not owing the defendant.
The company’s lawyer, Mr N. Anachebe, who was holding watching brief, said, “The defendant posted audio and video messages on his Instagram page claiming that the company was owing him, he was asked to pull it down, but he refused.”
After listening to parties in the matter, Magistrate Botoku asked, if the crux of the matter was defamation, she said if so, it should be a civil matter.
Anachebe in response said, “a case of defamation can be both criminal and civil”.
A lawyer in the court Mr Olumide Ajetunmobi, applied to be added as one of the sureties in the case.
“I humbly apply to stand as additional surety, for the defendant,” he said.
Consequently, Magistrate Botoku, granted the singer the bail in the sum of N50,000, with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case till October 11, for mention.
Dammy Krame who was previously signed to 2baba’s Hypertek Records is not a stranger to controversies.
On June 19, 2017, he was arrested in Miami, U.S for alleged credit card fraud.
His details were also updated onto the US jail base website.
According to a report published by Miami News Times at the time, he used a bogus card to book a private jet flight to Washington, D.C.
When authorities searched him, they found seven false credit cards in his wallet.
He was, however, released from jail in Miami after meeting the bail conditions, set at $7,500.
The 27-year-old pop star rose to prominence in 2012, when he released his single ‘My Darling’.
