By Bayero Ade
Olamide Thomas, a prominent #EndSARS activist, has been charged and remanded in custody for allegedly insulting Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu, on social media.
Ms. Thomas was arraigned before an Abuja court on Friday, facing four charges stemming from a video in which she reportedly criticized Seyi Tinubu and senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force. The video was recorded during a protest commemorating the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS movement, which campaigns against police brutality.
The protest turned violent when security forces deployed tear gas on demonstrators, including Ms. Thomas. The police allege her actions in the video violated Section 24(2)(a) of the Cybercrimes Act, 2024, as outlined in a charge sheet filed on December 18.
Presiding over the case, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered Ms. Thomas to be remanded in prison. With the judiciary set to observe a holiday break, she is expected to remain in custody until court proceedings resume in January 2025.
The detention has sparked outrage among activists, who view the charges as an attempt to stifle dissent and freedom of expression. Ms. Thomas’ supporters continue to call for her immediate release.
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