Akure Magistrates’ Court Orders Remand of TikTok Influencer Emmanuel Ajibade Over Cyberbullying Allegations Against FRSC Official

 

In a significant development from Ondo State, the Akure Division of the Magistrates’ Court on Thursday handed down a remand order for popular TikTok content creator Emmanuel Ajibade. The court directed that Ajibade be held at the Olokuta Correctional Centre pending further investigation into allegations of cyberbullying targeted at a Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) official.

The case was brought before the court following a police report accusing Ajibade of offenses related to cyber harassment, which reportedly took place on April 24, 2025. According to Inspector Taiwo Oniyere, who appeared as the police prosecutor, Ajibade and some accomplices, who are yet to be apprehended, are accused of cyberstalking, cyberbullying, and defamation at a location known as Higher Height Area in Orita Obele, Akure.

Inspector Oniyere detailed how Ajibade allegedly used his TikTok handle, “checkers69,” to disseminate false information aimed at causing distress to an FRSC official named Ibitoye Samuel. The prosecutor explained that the posts were designed to “cause annoyance, inconvenience, danger, insults, and criminal defamation” to the official. The nature of the content was said to have resulted in “intimidation, enmity and hatred, ill will and needless anxiety” for Mr. Samuel, seriously affecting his personal and professional life.

The charges leveled against Ajibade are rooted in the Cyber Crime (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2015, specifically under Section 27(b) and Section 24(b), which deal with offenses relating to cyber harassment and defamation through electronic communication. Inspector Oniyere implored the court to order that Ajibade be remanded in custody. This, he stated, would ensure that law enforcement agencies have sufficient time and access to continue their investigations thoroughly.

On the other hand, Ajibade’s defense counsel, Mr. A.F. Awala, appealed to the court for an opportunity to file a counter-affidavit in response to the prosecution’s application, emphasizing the need to present the defendant’s side of the story before any custodial decisions were made.

After carefully considering the submissions from both the prosecution and the defense, Chief Magistrate Olateju Odenusi-Fadeyi delivered her ruling. She said, “I have listened to the affidavit and counter-affidavit of both the prosecution and the defence counsel.”

Following this, the magistrate concluded, “I, hereby, order the remand of the defendant in Olokuta Correctional Centre, pending the legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).” The court set the next date for June 27, 2025, until which Ajibade will remain in custody as investigations continue.

This case highlights the increasing scrutiny on social media personalities in Nigeria and the legal consequences of online conduct, especially when it crosses into harassment and defamation. As social media platforms grow in influence, the courts are taking a firmer stance on protecting individuals, including public officials, from cyber offenses.