The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) rearrested Olumide Ogunsanwo, a TikToker known as “Sea King“, after he appeared at the magistrate court in Lagos on Thursday.
According to Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters, the police accused Ogunsanwo of cybercrime and arrested the social media blogger over his recent social media posts on police corruption.
Ogunsanwo was in court for a separate trial on charges of treason, cybercrime and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace after he was first arrested in December.
Sowore accused Force spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi of being the mastermind behind Ogunsanwo’s latest arrest.
READ MORE: Court Denies Police’s Wish to Detain TikToker ‘Sea King’ for Treason, Cybercrime
It has come to our attention that @PoliceNG in Lagos has arrested @seaking303 during a court appearance today, allegedly accusing him of cybercrime due to his latest social media posts on police corruption, this latest arrest was reportedly orchestrated by Force PPRO Adejobi… pic.twitter.com/xbbyXZqdJF— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) February 6, 2025
“It has come to our attention that the police in Lagos arrested Sea King during a court appearance today, allegedly accusing him of cybercrime over his recent social media posts on police corruption. Reports indicate that this arrest was orchestrated by Force PPRO Adejobi Olumuyiwa,” Sowore posted on Thursday.
“We call on the police to release Sea King immediately and to stop using cybercrime allegations to harass Nigerians.”
Ogunsanwo was first arrested on December 20 when he was accused of insulting President Bola Tinubu and Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos, in his videos.
During his arraignment on December 23, the police had sought to get the court’s consent to remand him for 30 days, but the magistrate court denied their wish.
“The police just filed a remand application and attached all manners of frivolous charge against him. But the court rejected the application for him to be remanded for 30 days,” Inibehe Effiong, the TikToker’s lawyer, told FIJ in December.
READ ALSO: Rights Activist Abiodun Thomas to Spend New Year’s Day in Detention for ‘Cursing IGP, Force PRO, Seyi Tinubu
The court instead granted him a bail fee of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.
“The court also admitted him to bail with the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties is a family member and gainfully employed. He has been remanded in Kirikiri pending when the bail conditions are met,” Effiong said.
Ogunsanwo was subsequently released on January 6 after perfecting his bail conditions.
The TikToker joined a growing list of citizens, journalists and activists who have been arrested and detained under the Cybercrime Act since Tinubu became president in 2023.
The post Police Rearrest TikToker ‘Sea King’ in Lagos With Fresh Cybercrime Claims appeared first on Foundation For Investigative Journalism.