By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
Two men, Dennis Ukpabi and Tega Oghenedoro standing trial for Cybercrime offences, risk revocation of bail granted them if they fail to be in court next adjourned date for continuation of their trial
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Wednesday issued a bench warrant against the defendants when the court noticed that they were not present in court for trial.
The Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU ), Ikoyi Lagos prosecuting for the Inspector-General of Police, had brought a Charge marked FHC/L/123c /17 bordering on Cybercrime offences against the defendants .
The defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charge and were granted bail. Meanwhile, trial has commenced as the prosecution had called its first witness and the matter was adjourned till Wednesday June 26 for continuation of trial.
When the matter was called for continuation of trial on Wednesday (today) a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Eliot Ijie announced appearance for the prosecution.
The defendants and their counsel were absent from court
Making his observation before the court , prosecutor Ijie said it appears that the defendants and their counsel were not in court whereas they know that the matter is scheduled for continuation of trial today.
Ijie said “My lord, the matter today is for continuation of trial and we have our witness in court .
“The defendants and their counsel are not in court and no reason was given for their absent.
“In the light of this, I urge my lord to issue a warrant to revoke their bail and their surety to produce them next adjourned date.
In a summary ruling, the trial judge Justice Aneke said ” Bench warrant is hereby issued against the defendants and their sureties are to show cause in the circumstance by the next date which is fixed on the 4th of November 2024 for report of compliance.”
The matter was subsequently adjourned to November 4 for continuation of trial.
Dennis Ukpabi and Tega Oghenedoro are standing trial on 5-counts charge bordering on Cybercrime offences.
The duo were alleged to have between 1st – 13th February , 2017, at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of Federal High Court, conspired together to commit felonies to wit: knowingly and intentionally, sending intimidated, hatred, insultive, and needless anxiety messages and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 27(1)(b) of Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015.
In Counts 2 to 5 , the defendants were alleged to have at various times sent gross offensive, indecent, sexual relationship obscene, intimidated, annoyed, hatred and insultive, needless anxiety messages to Adekanla Desalu ‘m’ , Busola Awosike ‘f’, Eguru Nyenke ‘f’ , and Adeyemi Odubiyi ‘m’ respectively.
According to the charge, the offence allegedly committed by the defendants is punishable under Section 24(1)(a) and (b) of Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015.