Cyberstalking: Buhari regime withdraws case against HEDA chairman
On Tuesday, the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court discharged the chairman of the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), Olanrewaju Suraju in a case bordering on cyberstalking.
This followed a request from the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami to withdraw the charge against the HEDA boss.
At the resumed hearing, the prosecution counsel Yewande Cole told the court that she had been directed by the attorney general to withdraw the case.
“This means that the court will strike out the case and when we are ready to go on, we will come back and refile it,” she said.
However, Muiz Banire, Mr Suraju’s counsel, asked the court to acquit his client saying that was the natural cause of action following such an application for withdrawal.
Mr Banire also asked the court to order the release of the N7 million bond he posted to secure the bail of his client.
Mr Banire also asked the court to award N1 million cost to him.
In a short ruling, Binta Nyako discharged Mr Suraju and also discharged the N7 million bail bond.
The judge ordered the prosecution to pay N250,000 to the defendant, whenever the case was going to be refiled.
Mr Suraju was docked before Ms Nyako on a two-count amended charge bordering on alleged cyberstalking of former attorney general of the federation, Mohammed Adoke.
The case was filed against the HEDA boss by the attorney general of the federation and Minister of Justice.
In count one of the charges marked FHC/ABJ/CS/370/2021, Mr Suraju was accused of intentionally circulating an audio telephone interview between Carlamaria Rumur, a reporter with RIAReporter in Italy and Mr Adoke via his Twitter handle @HEDAagenda.
(NAN)
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