By John Ogunsemore
Popular TikToker, Olumide Ogunsanwo, alias SeaKing has been granted N500,000 bail with two sureties in like sum by an Ogba Magistrate’s Court in Lagos State.
The court ruled that one of the sureties should be his family member and the sureties should be resident in Lagos State and be gainfully employed.
The police took SeaKing into custody on Saturday after posting a video in which he criticised President Bola Tinubu, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun.
He was subsequently arraigned on charges of treason, cyberstalking, conduct likely to cause breach of peace and provoking breach of peace.
In an X post on Monday, Counsel to the defendant, Inibehe Effiong disclosed that he visited SeaKing at the Lagos State Police Command headquarters, Ikeja on Monday with a colleague, Jeremiah Okoro along with SeaKing’s wife who came with their six months old baby.
Effiong said the police denied the entourage access to the detainee which prompted him to report to the Commissioner of Police (CP).
“While waiting to see the CP to express our grievances, SeaKing was sneaked out of the CP Tactical Squad 1 where he was being held, and taken to the Ogba Magistrate Court for secret remand proceedings.
“Thankfully, we intercepted the information and proceeded immediately to the court premises where we met SeaKing with the police officers.
“To our consternation, the Nigeria Police filed a remand application and annexed a charge to it wherein they’re accusing him of treason, cyberstalking, conduct likely to cause breach of peace and provoking breach of peace.”
He said the police accused the social media influencer of instigating Nigerian youths to “wage war” against the force.
“We opposed the application for remand on multiple grounds while urging the court to refuse the application to remand him for 30 days pending DPP advice.
“We applied that he should be admitted to bail in line with the provisions of Section 264 (5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State.
“The court considered arguments from both sides and upheld our position, and held that the police failed to show probable cause why he should be remanded for 30 days.
“The Learned Magistrate accordingly admitted SeaKing to bail on liberal terms; specifically in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum, one of the sureties should be his family member and the sureties should be resident in Lagos State and be gainfully employed,” Effiong added.
The case has been adjourned to January 16, 2025, for a report of DPP advice.