The Federal Government has formally opened its case against popular blogger and social media influencer Justice Chidiebere, widely known as Justice Crack, before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The prosecution on Monday presented its first witness, Uruntu Douglas, an investigator with the Department of State Services (DSS), who testified about the investigation and evidence gathered against the defendant.
Douglas told the court that Justice Crack was transferred to DSS custody by operatives of the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps, where he voluntarily made an extrajudicial statement.
According to the witness, investigators also extracted data from the defendant’s mobile phone, including photographs allegedly sent by soldiers complaining about poor welfare conditions.
The DSS investigator said the materials were later published on Justice Crack’s social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube and TikTok.
Pages from the influencer’s social media accounts were tendered before the court and admitted as exhibits during the proceedings.
However, defence counsel objected to the tendering of a flash drive and the defendant’s phone, arguing that the defence team had not been provided access to the contents of the devices.
Following the initial proceedings, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the matter for continuation of trial and proceeded to hear the bail application filed by the defendant.
Counsel to Justice Crack urged the court to grant bail, arguing that the alleged offence was bailable and that the defendant had maintained good conduct while in detention.
The lawyer further told the court that the influencer needed adequate time and freedom to prepare for his defence.
The prosecution opposed the application through a counter-affidavit, urging the court to refuse bail.
In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik granted Justice Crack bail in the sum of ₦5 million with one surety in like sum.
The court ruled that the surety must reside within the jurisdiction of the court and must have maintained a fixed address for at least four years.
The surety is also required to provide proof of residence through either a tenancy agreement or certificate of occupancy filed at the court registry.
Additionally, the court directed that the surety must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 15, with evidence of at least three months’ salary payments and proof of pensionable employment.
The surety must also submit a recent passport photograph, depose to an affidavit of means and provide a letter of authentication from the head of department.
Justice Crack was further ordered to deposit his international passport with the court pending the determination of the case.
