...CSO condemns motion
Nigeria’s Inside Minister, Olubumi Tunji-Ojo, has dragged a social crusader, Emorioloye Owolemi, earlier than the Akure division of the Federal Excessive Court docket, for allegedly cyberstalking.
Within the two rely cost marked: FHC/AK/3C/26, the defendant is being accused of deliberately making offensive assertion towards the minister by way of his Fb web page.
The alleged offence is claimed to be opposite to Part 24(1)(a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibtion, Prevention, and many others.) Act as amended, 2024 and punishable below the identical Act.
Rely one reads, “That you simply, EMORIOLOYE OWOLEMI, Male, Grownup, on or concerning the twenty third day of December 2025, at Igbokoda in Ilaje Native Authorities Space of Ondo State, inside the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court docket, did knowingly and deliberately despatched messages and/or different digital communications via a pc system and/or community to the general public by way of Fb, towards the Honourable Minister of inside of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Olubunmi Tunji- Ojo, whose messages have been grossly offensive, indecent, obscene, or menacing in
character, thereby committing the offence of cyberstalking.”
Rely two borders round Cyberstalking by threat and harassment an offence stated to be opposite to Part 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, and many others.) Act, as amended, 2024 and punishable below the identical Act.
It reads: That you simply, EMORIOLOYE OWOLEMI, Male, Grownup, on or concerning the twenty third day of December 2025, at Igbokoda in Ilaje Native Authorities Space of Ondo State inside the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court docket, did knowingly and deliberately despatched digital messages via a pc system to the general public by way of Fb.
Whereas listening to has been mounted for March 26, If convicted, Owolemi faces penalties below the Cybercrimes Act, together with imprisonment or fines.
The case is occurring amid controversy surrounding Tunji-Ojo’s Nationwide Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates, with allegations of forgery and abuse of energy.
In the meantime, a civil society group, Involved Residents Management Integrity and Transparency Advocacy Initiative (CLITA), has condemned Tunji-Ojo’s courtroom motion, saying Nigeria is a democratic society, constructive criticism is allowed.
“What this step by Olubumi Tunji-Ojo has proven is that he’s not studying something from President Bola Tinubu who’ve accepted constructive criticism as a part of recipe for good governance,” it stated.
“Points has been raised concerning the minister’s credentials, the accountable explanation for motion ought to have been the minister explaining himself or attempting to exonerate himself. As a substitute of towing this civil process, the minister has resorted to intimidating dissenting voices by the unlawful use of state equipment, the Govt Director, Involved Residents Management Integrity and Transparency Advocacy Initiative (CLITA) stated in an announcement in Abuja.