By Felix Kuyinu
The Police attached to the Criminal Investigation Department Force (CID) in Lagos have arrested a middle-aged woman, Folashade Olalude, over alleged cyberbulying and attempted murder of a businessman.
At the Ebute-Metta Magistates’ Court where the accused was arraigned, the prosecutor, Henry Obiazi, stated that Olalude and others not yet found had connived to commit the crimes against the businessman identified as Lawal Abdullateef between the years of 2015 to 2022.
Obiazi said that the accused, who was also charged for theft and conspiracy demanded the sum of N5m from Abdulateef with an intent to steal.
The Prosecutor also hinted that the defendant threatened to blackmail Abdulateef alongside his wife on the internet, defaming them as fraudsters if they fail to give him the money.
Obiazi went further to accuse the defendant of sending messages to Abdulateef’s phone sometime in October 2023 threatening to kill him if he fails to meet up with his request.
Olalude’s offences was said to have contravened sections 411, 301 and 232 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 and were punishable under the same laws.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Following her plea, the prosecutor prayed to the court to fix a trial date and also remand her in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), pending the conclusion of the trial.
However, the defence lawyer, Israel Ijenkeri, pleaded with the court to admit the defendant to bail in the most liberal terms, saying that the charges against her were bailable.
Magistrate Fowowe-Ersiafe in her ruling granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.
She adjourned the case to March 14, 2024 for the commencement of the trial.
