A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted bail to a Bayelsa-based news blogger, Mr Saint Mienpamo Onitsha, who was remanded in November 2023 over charges of defamation and cyberstalking against the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Major General Barry Ndiomu (Rtrd).
Mr Saint Mienpamo Onitsha, was charged to the Federal High Court, Abuja on allege Cyber stalking in suit numbered FJC/ABJ/CR/492/2023 between the Inspector-General of Police as Complainant and Mienapamo Onitsha Saint as Defendants.
He was later remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre following his arraignment before the Federal High Court presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite.
At the hearing of the bail application, the Prosecuting Counsel, Victor Okoye Esq, who opposed the bail application being sought, however raised doubt on the area of jumping of bail.
The Defence Counsel, Benjamin A. Ogbara Esq, argued that despite the opposition put forward by the prosecution, which to him is unfounded, he argued that the Court has the discretional power to admit bail.
The presiding Judge, Justice Nwite, after listening to the submissions of the prosecuting counsel, Victor Okoye Esq and the Defence Counsel, Benjamin S. Ogbara Esq, admitted bail to Saint Mienpamo Onitsha pending the determination of the trial.
Justice Emeka, while granting the bail application, however, stated that the defendant have shown that he is willing to defend the case against him and ready to cooperate with the court by promising not to jump bail.
Justice Emeka Nwite also stated that despite the argument put forward by the prosecution counsel on the possibility of the defendant to jump bail, “there is no concrete evidence before the court to buttress the assertion. And am granting the defendant bail in the interest of justice.”
The conditions of the bail include the payment of N10 million and two sureties and “that one of the sureties shall possess a landed property within the jurisdiction and the document to the landed property must be verified by the Deputy Registrar of the Court.
“That the second surety must be a responsible citizen of this country and that both counsel together with the sureties must each deposit two copies of their recent photograph with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court. That the residence of the sureties must be verified and confirmed by the registrar of the court.”
Justice Emeka Nwite, however, adjourned the case to the 19th of March, 2024, for trial.
It would be recalled that the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had on November 02, 2023 ordered that the Bayelsa News blogger, Mr Mienpamo Onitsha Saint, be remanded at the Kuje Custodial Centre, over allege defamation and cyber stalking against the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Major General Barry Ndiomu (Rtrd).
The defendant was also accused and standing trial on a three-count charge bordering on alleged willful libel, threat, causing danger and insult against the PAP Interim Administrator.
According to reports, when the charges were read to him at the commencement of the hearing, the accused person however pleaded not guilty.
The charges read in part, “That you Mienpamo Onitsha Saint of Imiringi Road, Yenagoa, sometimes in September 2023 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did knowingly and intentionally sent a message/post by means of computer system network via your Facebook page ‘Mienpamo Onitsha Saint’ that vote of no confidence on Ndiomu.
“As Amnesty Delegate strangled to death by Ndiomu Boys in Abuja which you know to be false, for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, ill will and needless anxiety to one Major General Barry Ndiomu (Retd) and thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 24 (1) (b) of the cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015.
“That you Mienpamo Onitsha Saint of Imiringi Road, Yenagoa sometime in September 2023 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did knowingly and intentionally transmitted and caused the transmission of a communication through a computer system network via public Facebook page known as Bayelsa Focus Group that vote of no confidence on Ndiomu.
“As Amnesty Delegate strangled to death by Ndiomu Boys in Abuja which is aimed at bullying, threatening and harassing the person of Major General Barry Ndiomu (Retd) and such communication has caused him fear of death, violence, bodily harm and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 24 (2) (a) of the cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015.”
