Court Grants Bail to TikToker Amid Police Remand
By Trek Africa Newspaper
A Lagos Magistrate’s Court in Ogba yesterday denied a police request to remand popular TikToker Olumide Ogunsanwo, also known as SeaKing, and instead granted him bail.
SeaKing was arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly inciting the public. He had called on Nigerian youths to retaliate against police brutality and reportedly criticized President Bola Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu over economic challenges. The police accused him of cyberbullying after his remarks.
A twist occurred when SeaKing’s lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, went to the State Police Command in Ikeja with his colleague and SeaKing’s wife, who brought along their six-month-old baby. They were denied access to see him. While waiting to report the issue to the Commissioner of Police, SeaKing was secretly moved to the Ogba Magistrate’s Court for a remand hearing.
Effiong learned about the move and rushed to the court, where he discovered that the police had filed a remand application, accusing SeaKing of treason, cyberstalking, and actions likely to provoke unrest. The police requested a 30-day remand while awaiting advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Effiong opposed the request, arguing there was no strong reason to keep SeaKing in custody. He asked the court to grant bail under Lagos State law.
The court agreed with Effiong, ruling that the police failed to provide sufficient grounds for a 30-day remand. SeaKing was granted bail for N500,000, with two sureties required. One surety must be a family member, both must live in Lagos, and they must be employed.
The case was adjourned to January 16, 2025, for the DPP’s advice.
