The Federal High Court, sitting in Lokoja, on Wednesday ruled it will
proceed in a cybercrime and other related charges brought by the Kogi
State government against a popular social blogger, Comrade Austin Usman
Okai.
The decision is was taken by a federal judge despite a wrong filing of proceedings pointed out by the defense attorney.
Justice Ndahi Auta handed down the controversial ruling and adjourned
hearing till October 12. By doing so, he was accepting the line of the
state government to unilaterally fling behind bars the voice of
opposition elements in the state, particularly such prominent ones as
those of Mr. Okai whose crime is that he advocates the payment of
workers’ salaries and pensions and good governance.
Comrade Okai was represented by his counsel, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN),
who argued strongly against the trial of the social crusader claiming
that he was petitioned by faceless individuals and not the state
government as claimed in court documents.
The government is acting on the premise that the blogger was
inciting the public to cause public disorder by publishing a series of
instigating comments against its refusal to downsize the state workforce
through endless screening and verification of workers and pensioners
documents.
Okai, who was earlier granted bail by a magistrate court but was
re-arrested in the court premises by security agents working on the
instructions of the state government, is facing simultaneous charges at
the magistrate court.
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