A Magistrates’ court in Port Harcourt, today granted bail to popular blogger, Kemi Omolulu Olonloyo, and Samuel Walson, publisher of a local tabloid in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Recall that the Nigeria police charged the controversial blogger, Kemi Olunloyo, with cyber crime on account of a post in which she accused David Ibiyeomie, a pastor based in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, of adultery.
In an Instagram post Ms. Olunloyo disclosed that the police arrested her in Port Harcourt and detained her after the pastor complained that she defamed his character in a post. Ms. Olunloyo, a daughter of former Governor Victor Omololu Olunloyo of Oyo State, had posted a letter written by a member of Mr. Ibiyeomie’s church in which the pastor was accused of a series of misconduct, including infidelities.
The two publishers are facing four count charges of publishing defamatory and malicious story against the General Overseer of Salvation Ministries, Pastor David Ibiyeomie.
Chief Magistrate, Alatuwo Elkanah Fubara, in his ruling granted the two accused media practitioners bail in the sum of two hundred thousand Naira with credible sureties who reside in Port Harcourt.
The court also struck out one of the charges on cyber crime against Kemi Omolulu Olonloyo for lack of jurisdiction to try the matter.
The matter has been adjourned to May 4 for hearing.
