By Funmilayo Okunade
An Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court, on Tuesday issued a bench warrant for former All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Abimbola Olawumi, over alleged cyber bullying and false accusation on social media.
The court issued the bench warrant after revoking the bail it earlier granted to her.
The defendant was first arraigned before the court on July 23 for alleged cyber bullying and false accusation on social media against one Yemisi Joluwe.
She had pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge preferred against her, and the court granted her bail on self-recognition as canvassed by her defence counsel on her first arraignment.
In a resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday, the counsel to the defendant, Mr Odunayo Okunade, in his submission, apologised to the court over his client absence in court.
Okunade said that his client was unable to attend the proceedings due to her health challenges and tendered a medical report to support his submission.
But the Police prosecutor, Mr Samson Osobu, opposed the defence’s argument, saying that the defendant absence was unjustifiable and that they were not aware of the medical report.
Osobu argued that in spite of claiming to be ill, the defendant was allegedly active on social media as on Monday and Tuesday where she reportedly continued to bully, threaten abuse and terrorise the complainant and other people on social media.
According to him, the defendant’s conduct amounts to a gross abuse of the bail earlier granted by the court.
He therefore urged the court to revoke the bail of the defendant and issue a bench warrant on her.
In his ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Mr Abayomi Adeosun, expressed displeasure over the defendant’s failure to appear in court.
Adeosun said that the court was disappointed that the defendant failed to honour its proceedings in spite of being admitted to bail on self-recognition, noting that parties granted bail were expected to comply strictly with the conditions attached to it.
He consequently revoked the bail earlier granted to her and issued a bench warrant on the defendant and adjourned the case until Aug 17 for hearing. -(NAN)
Source: PM News
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