Justice Akintoye Aluko of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos on Monday remanded one Paul Oweleke in custody after he was arraigned by the Directorate of State Services (DSS) on a two-count charge bordering on alleged cybercrime offences, including calls for a military coup against the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

According to the two count charge, the defendant, Oweleke was said to have committed felony by knowingly or intentionally sending messages and broadcasts though his social media handle ‘Oweleke TV’ that were subversive by inciting the Nigerian populace and calling for a military coup to remove President Bola Tinubu as president of Nigeria in other to replicate what is happening in Burkina Faso through an unconstitutional means for purpose of causing a disaffection and a breakdown of Law and Order in the country.

The offence according to the charge is said to be contrary to Section 24 (1) (b) of Cybercrimes (prohibition and prevention) Act, 2015 (As Amended 2024 and punishable under section 24 (1) of the same Act as amended by the 2024 of the Act.

At the resumption of proceedings, the prosecutor from the Directorate of State Services, Barrister Michael Bajela informed Justice Aluko that the prosecution has a two counts charge pending before the court and pleaded with the court to order that the charge be read so the the defendant can take his plea.

The charge was read and the defendant pleaded not guilty to same.

Following the not-guilty plea of the defendant, the prosecutor requested for a trial date and the remand of the defendant in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Services.

However, counsel to the defendant submitted that while he is not opposed to a trail date, said he had filed a motion for the bail of the defendant and served same on the prosecution, adding that he is reading to move the said motion for bail if the court permit him.

The prosecution in his reply admitted service which he said was made on him early in the morning before court sitting, Bajela, however, submitted that he would need time to go through the said motion for bail so as to make an informed response.

Justice Aluko after hearing both parties adjourned the matter till June 16, 2026 for the hearing of the defendant’s bail application.

That you PAUL JIBRIN OWELEKE ‘m’ , on or about the 23rd day of May, 2025, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Lagos Judicial, Division, did commit a felony, to wit: knowingly or intentionally sent messages and Broadcasts through your social media handle, ‘Oweleke T.V.’ that were subversive by inciting the Nigeria populace and calling for a military coup to remove President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) as President of Nigeria in order to replicate what is happening in Burkina Faso, through an unconstitutional means for purpose of causing a disaffection and a breakdown of Law and Order in the country and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 (1) (b) of Cybercrimes (prohibition and prevention) Act, 2015 (As Amended 2024 and punishable under section 24 (1) of the same Act as amended by the 2024 of the Act.

COUNT 2: That you PAUL JIBRIN OWELEKE ‘m’, on or about the 23” day of May, 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly or intentionally transmit or caused the transmission through a computer system or network by using your Social Media handle, ‘OWELEKE T.V.’ to bully, threaten or harass the constitutionally elected president of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), thereby placing the latter and the office of the President of Nigeria in fear of death, violence or bodily harm and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24(2) (a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2015 (as amended) in 2024 and punishable under section 24 (2) (c) (i) of the same Act as amended in 2024.

(The Nation)

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