For the past couple of days, social medias has been abuzz over the arrest and detention of controversial blogger, Kemi Omololu Olunloyo over a post she published on her blog where she accused popular Port-Harcourt pastor and General Overseer of Salvation Ministries, David Ibiyomie of adultery.
Her arraignment before a magistrate court together with one Samuel Walson, the publisher of a local tabloid in Port-Harcourt while dressed in prisoners' clothes caused a furor online.
But do we really know the facts of this case?
Omololu Olunloyo was earlier arrested on march 17th in Ibadan by the police under the Cybercrime Act and the Criminal Code Act for publishing a letter from a member of pastor Ibiyomie's church which accused him of corruption and being involved with actress Iyabo Ojo. She broke the news of her arrest on social medias and was then taken to Port-Harcourt where she was arraigned before a magistrate for publishing defamatory matters alongside Walson who syndicated her story.
She was held in prison till 23rd of march when she was to have the hearing of her bail application, but it was stalled by the absence of the magistrate due to him being indisposed. The bail hearing finally held and she and Walson were given bail with the sum of 200,000 naira and two civil servants who reside in Port-Harcourt to stand as sureties. The charge of Cybercrime was also dropped against her for the courts lack of jurisdiction to try the matter.
Unfortunately, she's still being detained because she has another case against her on the same matter this time before a Federal High Court in Port-Harcourt for defamation and false publishing. Also, all charges against Walson has been dropped, leaving Kemi alone to face the music.
Currently, she is now facing a one-count charge of publication of defamatory charges before the Magistrate Court and the Federal High Court at the same time.
Also, as libel and slander are civil offences in Nigeria, defamation and false publishing are crimes under the Criminal Code Act and a person found guilty of these is liable for up to two years imprisonment(Section 373-375 of the Act) or seven years under the section with which she is being charged (Section 516A(1)).
This means that Kemi Olunloyo is neither being held extra-judiciously nor being tried outside the ambit of the law. However, what is so unusual is her wearing prison clothes to court, seeing as that she is not a convict and as such, should not be wearing clothes meant for prison inmates.
Her cases are still on-going with the one before the Chief Magistrate Court coming up next on the 20th of May, while the one before the Federal High Court has the dates of April 10th, 11th, and 12th as the next court dates for accelerated hearing.
Pastor Ibiyomie has already being summoned to appear as a witness and explain how he was affected by the publication.
We will continue to follow the case closely as it is likely to be a landmark case in Nigeria with respect to how bloggers and news sites publish news and content.
Her arraignment before a magistrate court together with one Samuel Walson, the publisher of a local tabloid in Port-Harcourt while dressed in prisoners' clothes caused a furor online.
But do we really know the facts of this case?
Omololu Olunloyo was earlier arrested on march 17th in Ibadan by the police under the Cybercrime Act and the Criminal Code Act for publishing a letter from a member of pastor Ibiyomie's church which accused him of corruption and being involved with actress Iyabo Ojo. She broke the news of her arrest on social medias and was then taken to Port-Harcourt where she was arraigned before a magistrate for publishing defamatory matters alongside Walson who syndicated her story.
She was held in prison till 23rd of march when she was to have the hearing of her bail application, but it was stalled by the absence of the magistrate due to him being indisposed. The bail hearing finally held and she and Walson were given bail with the sum of 200,000 naira and two civil servants who reside in Port-Harcourt to stand as sureties. The charge of Cybercrime was also dropped against her for the courts lack of jurisdiction to try the matter.
Unfortunately, she's still being detained because she has another case against her on the same matter this time before a Federal High Court in Port-Harcourt for defamation and false publishing. Also, all charges against Walson has been dropped, leaving Kemi alone to face the music.
Currently, she is now facing a one-count charge of publication of defamatory charges before the Magistrate Court and the Federal High Court at the same time.
Also, as libel and slander are civil offences in Nigeria, defamation and false publishing are crimes under the Criminal Code Act and a person found guilty of these is liable for up to two years imprisonment(Section 373-375 of the Act) or seven years under the section with which she is being charged (Section 516A(1)).
This means that Kemi Olunloyo is neither being held extra-judiciously nor being tried outside the ambit of the law. However, what is so unusual is her wearing prison clothes to court, seeing as that she is not a convict and as such, should not be wearing clothes meant for prison inmates.
Her cases are still on-going with the one before the Chief Magistrate Court coming up next on the 20th of May, while the one before the Federal High Court has the dates of April 10th, 11th, and 12th as the next court dates for accelerated hearing.
Pastor Ibiyomie has already being summoned to appear as a witness and explain how he was affected by the publication.
We will continue to follow the case closely as it is likely to be a landmark case in Nigeria with respect to how bloggers and news sites publish news and content.
Arrest and detention of Kemi Olunloyo, a United States trained controversial journalist.
Reviewed by Omo_Nla
on
06:53
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Reviewed by Omo_Nla
on
06:53
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