By Bob MajiriOghene Etemiku, our Abuja Correspondent
Abuja, Nigeria – Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, has adjourned the cyber stalking case brought against right activist, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju by the Nigerian government due to lack of proof of evidence.
Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju is the Chairman of the Human & Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA).
In a blistering rebuke, Justice Nyako said that she was disappointed that the prosecuting counsel who is a deputy director in the Ministry of Justice exhibited an appalling lack of discretion with filing court processes.
“Listen here, I am already getting a headache from dealing with your indiscretions concerning this case. We are all interested in making progress with this case which has been filed since October 2021. Kindly put your house in order so we can all make progress,” Justice Nyako told the prosecutor.
Thereafter, the prosecuting counsel asked for more time to get the evidence. As a response, counsel for Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, Mr. Muritala Abdulrasheed told the court that even though he had no objection to the prosecution’s request for more time, he was concerned that the defense might “ambush us with all manner of documents when the case will be eventually heard.”
Before Justice Nyako granted the plea of the prosecution and adjourned the case to the 7th of February 2022, she threatened to strike out the case if the prosecution continues to be unprepared.
Mr. Suraju has denied the charges, and his lawyers told us that his appearance in court on Monday was for his arraignment over the charges that were brought against him by the Federal government of Nigeria.
In an exclusive interview with Alltimepost after the case was adjourned, Mr. Suraju said that he was happy that his lawyers were able to point out the lapses in the case that the Federal government had brought against him.
“Responses were not filed to preliminary objections, proof of evidence was not also filed by the prosecution and you can see the anger on the face of the presiding judge out of an embarrassing situation. It all shows that the prosecution was not ready for today, and have exposed the system to ridicule,” Mr. Suraju said.
Mr. Suraju also said that this was a fight that everyone should be involved to protect the civil space. “This case is going to show that Civil Society activists are not the pushovers that certain people think we are.
“That is why we must stand firm, stand together to say no to all the forces of harassment. We must protect our space and give the citizens of Nigeria what they expect of us and protect our integrity as well’.
The suit against Mr. Olanrewaju Suraj was filed through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami.
According to Sahara Reporters report of 23rd January 2022: Activists to storm Court As Cyberstalking Trial Against HEDA Chairman, Suraju, Holds Monday, the Federal government filed four counts in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/370/2021, “accusing Suraju of using his social media handle as well as emails and audio interviews to circulate false information on Adoke.”
Mohammed Adoke was appointed Attorney General of Nigeria and Minister of Justice on 6 April 2010. Information from Wikipedia says that Adoke was invited by the EFCC on 28 December 2015 for questioning over the Malabu Oil deal.
He was questioned in connection with the missing £22.5m (N6.18billion) loot of the Sani Abacha which was recovered from Island of Jersey. A three-man team made up of Federal government officials which included Adoke had been setup to monitor and recover the funds.
[6] In March 2016 it was reported that Adoke’s home in Netherlands was searched as well as the Royal Dutch Shell headquarters due to an investigation into the missing funds and receiving bribe from the Malabu Oil deal.On 21 December 2016, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission officially filed charges against Adoke on a nine count charge that as at when he was the Attorney General of Nigeria he approved a transfer transaction of $1.1 billion to Nigerian bank accounts managed by Dan Etete, former Minister of Petroleum.
The $1.1billion was paid by Royal Dutch Shell and Eni to the Federal government account for OPL 245 oil bloc. On 17 April 2019, a Nigerian High Court in Abuja issued an arrest warrant for Adoke and four others for failing to appear at trial in connection with Malabu Oil deal.
Among Civil Society stakeholder present at today’s (Monday) arraignment of Mr. Suraju included Mr. Hamza Lawal, chief executive of Connected Development. He said that watching Mr. Suraju’s arraignment in court was painful.
“As much as we all agree that the court is the last hope of the common man, what I just experienced is traumatizing. Today, when you stand for the rights of your country and its citizenry, when you defend justice and the rule of law, you could be prosecuted for doing the right thing.
“The government people were not ready; they didn’t have, and didn’t file any evidence. Most painful is that they are wasting tax payers’ money with this kind of affair. The man they are prosecuting Lanre Suraju, has stood for this country, has fought for this country, and has helped the Nigerian government recover millions of dollars.
“Today, he is being prosecuted on bogus charges that are unwarranted and unfounded. I feel terrible, I feel sad but we will not be shaken or broken. This case would surely set precedence for the activists coming after us,” Mr. Lawal said.
Alltimepost.com Abuja Correspondent made attempts to get to the deputy director in the Ministry of Justice who is prosecuting the case against Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju.
At the time of filing this story, our effort proved unsuccessful. He left immediately after the adjournment of the case.
