The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) hurriedly arraigned Abiodun Thomas, an activist who had been detained on the Inspector General of Police’s orders without a charge, at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday morning.
Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, disclosed this in a post on his X page.
Thomas’ arraignment before Justice Emeka Nwite came one week after she was arrested in Lagos State and a day after she slumped in Abuja, where she was transferred.
It also coincides with a fundamental rights lawsuit her lawyers had earlier filed against the police to challenge her detention. The suit was meant to be heard on Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja as well.
READ ALSO: Abiodun Thomas, Rights Activist Detained on IGP’s Orders, Faints in Police Custody
FIJ earlier reported that Thomas wrote her statement at the Nigeria Police Force-National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) on Thursday.
There are claims that her arrest and prolonged detention have to do with her online criticism of the police and the federal government. Sources told FIJ that the police were particularly focused on videos in which she hurled insults while criticising police brutality against her and other Nigerians.
Amid the social media backlash over Thomas’ prolonged detention, Muyiwa Adejobi, the police force spokesperson, posted a short statement on X on Friday morning.
“Raining direct curses on someone online is cyberbullying, not expression of freedom or criticism. And cyberbullying, which is even different from defamation, is a criminal offence and punishable. Be guided,” Adejobi wrote.
In response, Sowore wrote, “False narratives facilitating abuse of police authority is what the gibberish here is about. A person freely expressing dissatisfaction with the executive branch or public officials can’t be arrested or charged for cyberbullying.
READ ALSO: Police Deny Rights Advocate Olamide Abiodun Thomas Bail, Say IGP Wants Her Detained
False narratives facilitating abuse of police authority is what the gibberish here is about. A person freely expressing dissatisfaction with the executive branch or public officials can’t be arrested or charged for cyber bullying. This morning, you hastily arraigned Olamide… https://t.co/cBFKdNJwvG— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) December 20, 2024
“This morning, you hastily arraigned Olamide Thomas at the Federal High Court in Abuja before Justice Emeka Nwite while another judge Justice Liman prepared to hear her Fundamental Rights lawsuit against your reckless actions. It is essential to recognise that such abuse of power will not go unpunished.”
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