The Lagos State Police Command has rearrested TikToker Olumide Ogunsanwo, popularly known as Seaking, over alleged defamatory remarks against the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye.
Seaking was initially arrested in December and remanded by a magistrate court on charges of alleged treason, cyberstalking and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.
His arrest followed a video in which he reportedly insulted President Bola Tinubu, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun.
He was later granted bail set at N500,000 with two sureties in like amount.
Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong, in a statement on X on Thursday, disclosed that Seaking was rearrested at the Ogba Magistrate Court during a remand proceeding.
He was subsequently taken to the Ikeja police command and then flown to Abuja.
Effiong stated that the court had granted bail on December 23 and ordered the police to forward a duplicate case file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.
The case was adjourned to January 16, 2025, but stalled due to the absence of the prosecuting counsel.
It was later postponed to February 6, when the police prosecutor requested more time to file proof of compliance with the court’s order. The magistrate gave the police a one-week deadline and adjourned the case until March 25, 2025.
Condemning the rearrest, Effiong said it was unjust for the police to detain Seaking despite the court granting him bail.
In an update on Friday, activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore revealed that Seaking was flown to Abuja over alleged cyberbullying of Pastor Adeboye.
According to Sowore, he visited the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) with lawyer Deji Adeyanju and was informed that Seaking was arrested following a petition submitted on behalf of Adeboye by one Paul Adama.
Sowore wrote on Facebook, “We just left the DIG Dasuki Galandanchi-led Federal Investigation Department, where we met Seaking in the custody of officers who traveled to Lagos to apprehend him. To our surprise, we were told his ordeal is linked to alleged cyberbullying against Pastor E.A. Adeboye over a TikTok session in December 2024.”
He further criticised the police for acting on the petition, calling their actions disheartening.
A check on Seaking’s TikTok page showed videos from December in which he criticised Adeboye for wearing military camouflage during a church convention in August and for a statement suggesting Nigerians should be happy about the depreciation of the naira.
