The police on Wednesday presented its first witness in the trial of two men charged with alleged defamation, of the Monarch of Ikate Kingdom in Eti-Osa, Oba Saheed Elegushi.
The two men, Adesola James and Odunmosu Azeez Awiye, are facing trial before Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Lagos for alleged cyberstalking, illegal publication, and defamation of the Elegushi.
Specifically, the prosecuting counsel, a senior legal officer at the state Criminal Intelligence Investigation Department, CIID, Yaba, Nosa Watson Uhumwango, accused the duo of illegally and unlawfully publishing by audible sounds and exhibiting through their respective TIKTOK platforms, contents said to be false, grossly offensive and prejudicial to Oba Saheed Elegushi and the people of Ikate Kingdom within the Eti-Osa Local Government Area.
They are also alleged to have circulated the publication on several other social media platforms.
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The alleged offences said to have been committed between Dec. 2023 & March 2024 in Lagos, are punishable under Section 24(1)(b)(2)(a)(i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, 2015, and other extant laws.
At their arraigned on an amended four-count charge on May 8, the two defendants pleaded not guilty to the offence, after which the court granted them bail of N5m.
At the resumed proceedings in court, the first defendant, Adesola James, aged 34, was represented by counsel while the second defendant, Odunmosu Azeez Awiye, 40, had no legal representation.
Both men pleaded with the court, to grant an adjournment to enable them to familiarise themselves with the case, and secure adequate legal representation so they could defend the allegations made against them.
