Rights activist Abiodun Thomas, who was arrested on December 13 for cursing Seyi Tinubu, President Bola Tinubu’s son, will spend the first days of 2025 in detention.
While she has already spent Christmas Day and her birthday in detention, she will likely spend the first six days of 2025 in detention after a court hearing was adjourned until January 6.
Following her arrest in Lagos and subsequent transfer to Abuja, she was arraigned at the Federal High Court on December 20.
Justice Emeka Nwite remanded her at the Suleja Custodial Centre and adjourned her bail application until Monday.
READ MORE: Rights Activist Abiodun Thomas Spends 12th Day, Christmas in Detention ‘for Cursing’ Tinubu’s Son
FIJ learnt that during the hearing of the motion for bail, her lawyers’ motion and the complainant’s counter-affidavit were both adopted and argued.
The matter was, however, adjourned until January 6, 2025.
FIJ earlier reported that policemen under the orders of Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), arrested the human rights activist and moved her from Lagos to Abuja.
A court document obtained by FIJ shows that the IGP charged the activist on account of some video recordings shared on her social media platforms where she uttered ‘direct curses’ at Tinubu, the IGP himself and Muyiwa Adejobi, the spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
READ ALSO: CONFIRMED: IGP Ordered Rights Activist Abiodun Thomas’ Arrest, Detention Because She ‘Cursed’ Seyi Tinubu
According to the court document, her remarks were intended to “bully, threaten, harass” the trio of Tinubu, Egbetokun and Adejobi.
She is being charged under section 24 (2) (a) Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
Thomas’ detention has drawn mixed reactions on social media, with many wondering how raining curses on an individual could be considered a criminal offence.
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