A businessman, Amarah Kennedy, who was accused of circulating nude photos of his former lovers was on Wednesday arraigned at a Chief Magistrates’ Court, in Ogba, Lagos.
Kennedy was arraigned on six counts charge of provocation, unlawful conversion of funds and publication of nudes on social media without the consent of the persons.
The charge read in part, “That you, Amarah Kennedy, sometime in September 2022, in a hotel, at Olodi Apapa, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, insulted, annoyed, disgraced and/or provoke one (names withheld) without her consent did share her nude in the social media and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 24 of the Cybercrime Stalking (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2015.
“That you, Amarah Kennedy, on June 4, 2023, at the Olodi Apapa area of Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, insulted, annoyed, embarrassed, provoke one (name withheld) ‘ without her consent shared her nude picture on Facebook and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24 of the Cyber Stalking (Protection and Prevention) Act Law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2015.”
Though the charge was read to him, the court did not take the defendant’s plea.
Chief Magistrate A.O Layinka thereafter granted him bail in the sum of N2m with two sureties in like sum.
She ordered that the case file be duplicated and sent to the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution for legal advice.
She thereafter adjourned the case to August 3, 2023, for legal advice.
A mild drama had earlier played out in the courtroom when a Magistrate who earlier held brief for Layinka, directed that Kennedy takes his plea while the charge was being read to him.
The police prosecutor, Cyril Ejiofor, however, noted that he submitted a remand application before the court and therefore the defendant cannot take his plea.
Irked by the development, the magistrate asked the prosecutor if he wanted to take over the case from her, and thereafter left the courtroom.
After about seven minutes, she returned accompanied by Layinka.
This led to another mild drama in the courtroom as she also instructed that Kennedy takes his plea, but after the confusion, ordered again that the charge should just be read to him.
The prosecutor, Ejiofor after the charge was read, prayed the court to grant the remand application before it and remand the defendant to the Gender Unit of the Lagos State Police Command for 21 days.
The defence counsel, led by O. Ogunolole, however, objected to the application, describing the offences as bailable.
The magistrate, in her ruling, stated, “After a careful review of the six-count charge and remand application dated July 12, 2023, the offences of the defendant show no allegation of threat to life, no allegation of sexual violence.
“I hereby refuse the remand application and the defendant is admitted to bail in the sum of N2m with two responsible sureties in like sum.”
Apple’s Bite had published a series of follow-up stories to the plights of two women, Kester and Temi, in the hands of Kennedy who they met separately on different WhatsApp and Facebook chat groups for singles.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
