A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday rejected the request of former aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode to remand his ex-lover Precious Chikwendu in prison for alleged cyberstalking.
Chikwendu was arraigned before Justice Obiora Egwuatu, pleading not guilty to the charge.
Following her plea, Fani-Kayode’s lawyer prayed the court for a date to commence trial and also asked the court to remand Chikwendu in the Kuje Correctional Centre.
However, defence counsel Alex Ejesieme opposed the application on the basis that his client had never breached the terms of the administrative bail granted her by the police.
But prosecution counsel Victor Okoye argued that Ms Chikwendu had conducted herself in a way that undermined the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, citing paragraphs 5 to 9 of his counter-affidavit.
The prosecutor said that even when the charge was already in court, Chikwendu had been making publications to suggest that the criminal administration act was biased.
Justice Egwuatu, however, said that he found no reason to deny Chikwendu bail.
“I have painstakingly read the opposition to the bail application and I have not seen any reason to deny her bail. On the contrary, the defendant has deposed that she will not jump bail and that she was granted administrative bail by the police and she never breached the terms,” he said.
The judge subsequently admitted Chikwendu to bail in the terms of the administrative bail earlier granted her by the police.
He adjourned the matter until June 7 for commencement of trial.
