- Safiu Kehinde
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has on Monday, ordered the remand of social media critic, Chidiebere Mark, popularly known as Justice Crack, in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged false claim against the military.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik gave the order after Chidiebere was arraigned for claiming that the Nigerian military personnel were poorly fed.
NPO Reported that the Nigerian Army had last week arrested the Chidiebere following complaints raised by some soldiers over welfare-related issues, including feeding, which were later amplified on social media by the blogger.
While the soldiers involved in the social media post were also arrested, Chidiebere was handed over civil authorities for further investigation with the DSS taking up his case.
The DSS would arraign the social media critic, who lives at Plot 88, Sabo Lugbe, Abuja, on a three-count charge over the post.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge when it was read to him, following which the prosecuting lawyer, Mr E. Orubo, applied for a date to enable the prosecution to open its case.
Orubo subsequently urged the court to remand the defendant in the custody of the DSS.
Defence lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, made an oral application for bail, but the trial judge ordered him to file a formal application for bail.
In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the DSS and adjourned until May 25 for the commencement of trial and hearing of bail application.