A Magistrate Court in Yenagoa has ordered the remand of Mr. Aye O.S. Egberi, head of the social media team of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, at the Okaka Medium Correctional Centre for 30 days pending investigation.
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Egberi was arraigned on Wednesday over allegations that he published defamatory posts accusing the State Commissioner of Police and Governor of Bayelsa of involvement in the July abduction of Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro, a judge of the State High Court.
Police said Egberi was arrested by operatives of Operation Puff Adder following a petition and on the directive of the Commissioner of Police.
At Magistrate Court 14, the prosecution, led by Japhet O.J. Japhet, argued that Egberi’s online posts amounted to cyberbullying and cyberstalking under Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrime Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024). The offence, they noted, carries up to 10 years’ imprisonment and fines upon conviction.
The prosecution further stated that advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) would determine whether Egberi would be arraigned before the High Court.
Ruling on the application, Magistrate Stanley Ekeru ordered Egberi’s remand at the Okaka Medium Correctional Centre pending the conclusion of police investigations and legal advice.
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