*Lauds DSS’ Treatment of Client. * Court Sets May 25 for continuation of Trial

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted bail to social media commentator, Justice Chidiebere, popularly known as “Justice Crack,” in the sum of Five Million Naira (₦5,000,000), with one surety in the like sum. The bail was secured through his new lawyer, Sam Amadi.
Sowore’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, whom Crack had debriefed, was visibly absent throughout the sitting.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, while ruling on the bail application, imposed a number of conditions to be satisfied before the bail is perfected.

Aside requiring that the proposed surety must reside within the jurisdiction of the court at a fixed and verifiable address for a minimum of four years, such must deposit proof of residence either through a tenancy agreement or a Certificate of Occupancy, at the court registry.

The surety was required to be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 15, with evidence of at least three months of salary payments, a letter of authentication from the immediate head of department, and proof of pensionable employment. The surety must also depose to an affidavit of means and submit a recent passport photograph to the registry.

As a further condition, the defendant was directed to deposit his international passport with the court pending the determination of the matter.

Earlier in the proceedings, prosecution counsel, M. L. Aboye, informed the court that the prosecution was fully prepared to commence trial. The first prosecution witness, identified as Oronto Douglas, a DSS operative, thereafter took the stand.

The witness told the court that he came to know the defendant in the course of investigations, after he was transferred to the Department of State Services (DSS) from the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps.
The witness affirmed that the defendant voluntarily made an extra-judicial statement, which was duly recorded in the presence of lawyers from Legal Aid Council.

According to the witness, some soldiers had sent pictures to the defendant, who allegedly converted the images into videos and posted them on social media without verifying the authenticity of the materials with military sources. He further disclosed that investigators conducted a forensic examination of the defendant’s mobile phone, from which they extracted videos allegedly posted online, conversations between the defendant and some soldiers, chats with a godfather allegedly discussing protests, as well as excerpts from his various social media pages.

The witness added that, upon conclusion of the forensic process, a certificate of compliance was issued and signed by a superior officer.

Thereafter, the defense counsel, Sam Amadi, informed the court that the defence had not been served with the investigation report and other documents the prosecution sought to tender before the court.

The prosecution, in response, described the lapse as an oversight and apologized to the court.

The trial judge subsequently admitted the DSS’ investigation report as Exhibit A.

The prosecution further tendered an iPhone allegedly recovered from the defendant, a flash drive said to contain videos posted on various social media platforms, conversations extracted from the device, and the certificate of compliance.

The defence, however, raised a formal objection to the admissibility of the flash drive, arguing that its contents had neither been described nor played before the court for proper evaluation.

Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter to May 25 for continuation of trial.

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has alleged that there are plans by security operatives to take former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, into custody from
the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday.

Frank, in a statement in the early hours of Monday, claimed he received information from sources alleging that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) might attempt to arrest El-Rufai when he appears before Justice M.B. Idris of the Federal High Court.

He said: “Pursuant to what appears to be a grand plan by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to politically eliminate Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, I have been reliably informed that plans have allegedly been concluded by the DSS to forcefully take him into custody today (Monday) from the Federal High Court, Abuja, where he is meant to appear.”

According to him, such a move would allegedly contradict existing court orders directing that El-Rufai remain in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) pending the determination of matters before the court.

He further alleged that security operatives met the previous night to finalise arrangements for the alleged forceful abduction plot.

Frank said: “I reiterate that nothing must happen to El-Rufai. It is becoming increasingly obvious that he is being treated as a political target of the current administration.

“The President, the security agencies, and the Kaduna State Government must remember that power is transient and nothing lasts forever.”

The political activist also expressed fears that should any alleged attempt to permanently silence el-Rufai fail, the alternative plan may be to keep him in prolonged custody until after the 2027 elections.

He said: “It is unfortunate that Governor Uba Sani, once known as a civil rights activist who understood the importance of protecting citizens’ freedoms, now appears to be associated with actions many consider inconsistent with the rule of law, allegedly for political advantage.”

He urged authorities to respect the rule of law and avoid actions that could heighten political tension in the country.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, further stated that any attempt to forcibly abduct El-Rufai from the court premises in defiance of subsisting court orders would amount to “an assault on the rule of law.”

He called on civil society organisations, northern leaders, religious groups, and the international community to closely monitor developments surrounding the case.

He said: This is the time for Nigerians, northern leaders, civil society groups, religious leaders, and all lovers of justice and democracy to rise in one voice against oppression and selective justice.”

While condemning what he described as selective justice, Frank maintained that anti-corruption efforts must be conducted within the bounds of fairness and due process.

“I support the fight against corruption, but such a fight must be fair, just, balanced, and devoid of political persecution,” he said.

Invoking the famous warning by German pastor, Martin Niemöller, Frank quoted:

“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”

Frank said the quote underscored the dangers of silence in the face of perceived injustice.

He also questioned whether El-Rufai was being singled out among former governors facing scrutiny in the country.

He said: “I reiterate that nothing must happen to el-Rufai. It is becoming increasingly obvious that he is being treated as a political target of the current administration. The President, the security agencies, and the Kaduna State Government must remember that power is transient and nothing lasts forever.

“If anything happens to El-Rufai, Governor Uba Sani and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must be held responsible,” he declared.

A youth-based advocacy organisation in Abia State has rejected allegations that a constituency project linked to Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, was abandoned, describing the claims as misleading and politically motivated.

The group, Abia Progressive Youth Frontier (APYF), said recent reports questioning the implementation of a conference and e-learning facility attracted unnecessary controversy without proper understanding of the project’s status and execution process.

In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its state coordinator, Chinedu Nwafor, the organisation said attempts to portray the project as abandoned ignored the broader record of infrastructural and educational interventions facilitated by Kalu across Bende federal constituency.

According to the group, the deputy speaker has remained one of the most visible and impactful federal lawmakers from Abia state, particularly in the areas of youth empowerment, education, infrastructure, healthcare support, and constituency development.

The youth organisation said it was important for public commentary around constituency projects to be guided by fairness, verification, and an understanding of implementation timelines rather than assumptions capable of creating public distrust.

“We consider it necessary to caution against the growing trend where incomplete project sites are hastily labelled abandoned projects without considering procurement processes, execution phases, and administrative adjustments that may occur during implementation,” the statement said.

The group noted that Kalu’s interventions in Abia communities have remained visible and verifiable, adding that several educational, road, and empowerment projects linked to the lawmaker are already benefiting residents across the constituency.

According to APYF, the deputy speaker has consistently demonstrated commitment to effective representation since assuming office, especially through projects targeted at improving learning conditions and expanding opportunities for young people.

The organisation also said the relocation of project components or adjustments in implementation structure should not automatically be interpreted as fraud or diversion of public funds without concrete evidence from regulatory authorities.

It added that public office holders should be held accountable through credible institutional processes rather than social media sensationalism capable of distorting facts and undermining public confidence.

“The people of Bende federal constituency are not disconnected from developments within their communities. We have seen projects, interventions, scholarships, youth programmes, and strategic investments facilitated through the office of the deputy speaker,” Nwafor said.

“To reduce an entire record of representation to allegations driven largely by assumptions does not reflect the realities on ground.”

The group commended Kalu for what it described as responsive leadership and sustained engagement with community needs, noting that many youths in the constituency have benefitted from empowerment schemes, educational support programmes, and skills initiatives associated with his office.

APYF further urged anti-corruption agencies and oversight institutions to continue carrying out their responsibilities professionally and without political pressure, stressing that accountability must remain evidence-based.

The organisation said while civic scrutiny of public projects remains important in a democratic society, such scrutiny must also avoid creating false impressions capable of damaging reputations without verified findings.

According to the group, the deputy speaker’s growing profile within national leadership is tied to his consistency in legislative engagement, constituency outreach, and developmental interventions across Abia State.