Alleged Defamation: Court Grants Edo Human Rights Activist, Agho Bail
OkeOghene Orogun, Benin City
A High Court sitting in Benin City the Edo State capital has granted the former coordinator general of the Edo Civil Society Organizations (EDOCSO), Left Omobude Agho bail for alleged defamation and cyber-stalking.
Omobude Agho was brought before Criminal Court 1, headed by Honourable Justice Efe Ikpomwonba.
The police prosecutor, Y. Musa, had brought before the court a motion exparte for the remand of the defendant in prison custody.
The charge read “that you Omobude Agho ‘m’ on or about the 16th day of March 2024 at Benin City within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Benin judicial division, with intent to injure the reputation of DCP Betty Otimenyin, did make an injurious Facebook publication of your Facebook timeline named “Omobude Left Agho” where you referred to her as madam deputy commissioner of police in zone 5 and female deputy commissioner of police connected at zone 5 respectively and accused her of aiding and assisting one Dominic Edobor in committing crime at Ugbineh community and other several injurious publications which you know to be false and has gone viral in a manner that injures the reputation of DCP Betty Otimenyin and brought her to disrepute and hatred and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 24(1)(a) and (b)(2)(a)and (b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015.”
Omobude however pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The lead defendant’s counsel, Olayiwola Afolabi SAN alongside U.L. Osa-Uwagie and Robinson Ayodele applied that the defendant be admitted to bail as he is sure he will not jump bail.
The presiding judge having listened to both police counsel and the defendant’s counsel, granted the defendant bail with a surety and a like sum of 500,000 million naira.
The surety was to swear to an affidavit of means and resident and workplace to be verified by court officials.
The defendant was able to meet the bail conditions and was released on bail by the court.
The case was further adjourned to the 21st of May, 2024.
