The police have introduced their first witness in the trial of two men accused of allegedly defaming the Monarch of Ikate Kingdom in Eti-Osa, Oba Saheed Elegushi.
Adesola James and Odunmosu Azeez Awiye are being tried before Justice Abimbola Awogboro at the Federal High Court in Lagos for alleged cyberstalking, illegal publication, and defamation of Elegushi.
The prosecuting counsel, Nosa Watson Uhumwango, a senior legal officer at the State Criminal Intelligence Investigation Department (CIID) in Yaba, accused the defendants of illegally and unlawfully publishing content on their respective TikTok platforms that was false, grossly offensive, and prejudicial to Oba Saheed Elegushi and the people of Ikate Kingdom in Eti-Osa Local Government Area.
Additionally, the defendants are accused of disseminating the publication across multiple other social media platforms.
The alleged offenses, reportedly committed between December 2023 and March 2024 in Lagos, are punishable under Section 24(1)(b)(2)(a)(i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, 2015, and other applicable laws.
During their arraignment on an amended four-count charge on May 8, the two defendants pleaded not guilty. The court subsequently granted them bail set at N5 million.
In the resumed court proceedings, the first defendant, 34-year-old Adesola James, was represented by counsel, while the second defendant, 40-year-old Odunmosu Azeez Awiye, had no legal representation.
Both men requested an adjournment from the court to allow them time to familiarize themselves with the case and secure adequate legal representation to properly defend against the allegations.