Court Grants Blogger N3million Bail for Publishing False Adultery Escapades bw Actress Genevieve and UBA Bank MD

Justice Mohammed Yunusa of the Federal High Court, Lagos has granted bail to an on-line journalist, Desmond Ike-Chima, who was alleged to have published a malicious report against the Managing Director of United Bank of Africa (UBA) Plc, Mr. Philips Oduoza.

The judge granted to the blogger, on Friday, after ruling on his bail application, filed his lawyer, Nnamdi Mofunaya which the prosecution did not opposed.

The court granted the accused bail in the sum of N3 million with two sureties in the same like sum.

The judge also ordered that who-would be-sureties, must be landed property owners within the jurisdiction of the court.

The blogger was arraigned before the court by the department of Special Fraud Unit, SFU, of Nigerian Police Force, Alagbon, Lagos, on November 2, on a two count-charge bordering on cybercrime.

The offences according to the Police prosecutor, Henry Obiazi, are contrary to and punishable under section 24(1)(b) Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention ETC) Act, Laws of the Federation 2015.

Count one of the charge marked FHC/L/429c/15 reads; “That you Desmond Ike Chima and other now at large in March 2015, Ojodu, Lagos, in the Lagos judicial division, knowingly to banks false or intentionally send or published an article by means of computer on the internet entitled ‘Randy UBA MD, Philips Oduoza in adultery mess…Romance Star Actress Genevieve Nnaji’, for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience danger, obstruction, insult, injury,criminal intimidation, enmity, barred, ill will or endless anxiety to the said Philips Oduozu, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section  24(1)(b) Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention ETC) Act, Laws of the Federation 2015.

Count two of the charge reads; “That you Desmond Ike Chima and others now at large, on the same date, place and in the aforesaid judicial division, knowingly to banks false or intentionally send or published an article by means of computer on the internet entitled ‘Randy UBA MD, Philips Oduoza’s wife to divorce him over affairs with actress Genevieve Nnaji’, for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience danger, obstruction, insult, injury,criminal intimidation, enmity, barred, ill will or endless anxiety to the said Philips Oduozu, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section  24(1)(b) Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention ETC) Act, Laws of the Federation 2015.”

The accused had pleaded not guilty to the charges. The matter has been adjourned till February 16, 2016, for trial.