By Sunday Oyinloye
The Federal Government has filed a 4-count criminal charges against a Lagos based Non-Governmental Organization NGO Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju over alleged Cybercrime related offences involving blackmail of former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Mohammed Bello Adoke SAN.
Suraju who is the Chairman of Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) is to be put on trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja having been indicted in a police report that investigated a petition by Adoke against him.
In the 4 count charge dated October 8, 2021 and marked FHC/ABJ/CR/370/2021, Suraj was accused by the federal government of using social media outlets to malign and bring the reputation of the former Minister of Justice into disrepute.
The 4 criminal charges against Suraju was endorsed by A.O Shaibu, Deputy Director, Aminu Kayode Alilu, Chief State Counsel and Y.A Cole, Assistant Chief State Counsel, both in the Department of the Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja.
Count one of the charge read “That you Olanrewaju Suraju of Ikeja, Lagos, sometimes in 2018 intentionally circulated audio telephone interview alleged to have occurred between one Miss Carlamaria, rumour a reporter with RIA in Italy and Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke SAN via your Twitter handle which you knew to be false for the purpose of causing insult to Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke”
The alleged offence is said to be contrary to section 24 of the Cybercrime Prohibition and Prevention Act 2015 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
Count two “That you Olanrewaju Suraj of Ikeja Lagos sometimes in 2018 did intentionally circulate an audio telephone interview alleged to have occurred between one Miss Carlamaria, a reporter with RIA of Italy and Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke SAN on your Facebook page which you knew to be false for the purpose of causing insult to Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke contrary to section 24 of the Cybercrime Prohibition and Prevention Act 2015 and punishable under the same Act.
Count three read “That you Olanrewaju Suraju of Ikeja Lagos sometimes in 2018 did intentionally circulate an email dated June 2011, alleged to have sent with the email address agroupproperties@yahoo.com owned by A Group Properties and received by a certain Osoluke Bayo O with the email address bayooosoluke@jpmorgan which you knew to be false via your Twitter handle for the purpose of causing insult to Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke SAN.
The alleged offence is said to be contrary to section 24 of the Cybercrime Prohibition and Prevention Act 2015 and punishable under the same Act.
Count Four indicates, “That you Olanrewaju Suraju of Ikeja Lagos sometimes in 2018 did intentionally circulate an email dated June 21 2011, alleged to have been sent with an email address agroupproperties@yahoo.com owned by A Group Properties and received by a certain Osoluke Bayo O with the email address bayooosoluke@jpmorgan which you knew to be false via your Facebook handle for the purpose of causing insult to Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke SAN.
The charge indicated that the alleged offence is contrary to section 24 of the Cybercrime Prohibition and Prevention Act 2015 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
As at the time of this report, it could not be ascertained if the charge has been served on him as required by law but no date has been set for the arraignment of the accused person.
