Popular Nigerian TikToker Olumide Ogunsanwo, widely known as Seaking, has been rearrested during a court appearance on Thursday, allegedly over his recent social media posts exposing police corruption.
A Nigerian human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, disclosed the development via his X handle, condemning the arrest as an attempt to silence critics of the Nigerian Police Force.
Sowore alleged that the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, orchestrated the latest arrest, using cybercrime allegations as a pretext to detain Seaking.
The activist called for the immediate and unconditional release of the social media influencer, warning against the misuse of cybercrime laws to intimidate Nigerians.
Sowore said, “It has come to our attention that @PoliceNG in Lagos has arrested @seaking303 during a court appearance today, allegedly accusing him of cybercrime due to his latest social media posts on police corruption, this latest arrest was reportedly orchestrated by Force PPRO Adejobi Olumuyiwa @Princemoye1.
“We request the police to release @seaking303 immediately and stop harassing Nigerians with cybercrime allegations.”
On January 6, SaharaReporters reported that Seaking had been released from Kirikiri prison after meeting his bail conditions.
The development was confirmed by his lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, who made this known via his X handle.
Effiong explained that the process of perfecting Seaking’s bail was delayed due to the Christmas and New Year holidays, as well as administrative reasons.
However, he added that the necessary procedures had been concluded, and Seaking’s release warrant had been signed.
“We just departed the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri with TikToker, Olumide Ogunsanwo alias Seaking.
“He was arrested on 20th December, 2024 by the @PoliceNG and taken to the Ogba Magistrate Court in Lagos on 23rd December, 2024 to be remanded for 30 days for alleged treason, cyberstalking over his viral TikTok video againsttl the police,” Effiong said.
He said, “We opposed the remand application and he was granted bail instead by the very courageous Magistrate.
“However, due to the Christmas and new year holidays and administrative reasons, we could not perfect his bail immediately.
“Today, the bail perfection process was concluded and his release warrant signed.
“I went with YeleSowore and other activists to personally secure his release,” Effiong added.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Christopher John, who arraigned Seaking before the Lagos Magistrate had accused him of treason.
Count one of the charges against him reads, “That you Ogunsanwo Olumide John ‘m’ a.k.a Seaking on the 18th day of December, 2024 around Noon time, at Ikorodu area of Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conduct yourself in a manner likely to cause breach of the peace by knowingly and intentionally sending an online video through your phone via a Tiktok handle named SEAKIG303 and called on the Nigeria Youths and members of the public to beat up or throw stones at any Police Officer who stops and or demand to check their phones and thereby committed an offence Contrary to and Punishable under Section 168(d)(2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”
Count two reads, “That you Ogunsanwo Olumide John ‘m’ a.k.a Seaking on the same date, time and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did provoke breach of the peace by knowingly and intentionally sending an online video through your phone via a Tiktok handle named SEAKING303 and called on the Nigerian youths and members of the public to beat or throw stones at any Police Officers who stops and or demand to check their phones and thereby committed an offence Contrary to and Punishable under Section 57(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”
Count three reads, “That you Ogunsanwo Olumide John ‘m’ a.k.a Seaking on the same date, time and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did knowingly and intentionally sent an online video through your phone via a Tiktok handle named @seaking303 calling on the Nigerian Youths to beat up or throw stones at any Police Officer who stops and or demands to check their phones which you know is tantamount to inciting violence against members of the Nigerian Police Force and thereby committed an offence Punishable under Section 24(1)(a)(b)(2)(a) and (i) of the Cybercrime Act, 2015.”
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