Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court on Monday, May 18, granted bail to social critic Justice Chidebere in the sum of N5 million with one surety in like amount over alleged cybercrime offences linked to a viral video concerning the feeding conditions of Nigerian soldiers.
The bail hearing had earlier been delayed last Thursday following disagreements between two lawyers who both claimed to represent the defendant.
During Monday’s proceedings, the Federal Government opened its case against Justice Crack by presenting its first witness, Uruntu Douglas, an operative of the Department of State Services.
The witness told the court that he obtained the defendant’s extrajudicial statement after Justice Crack was transferred to DSS custody by the Nigerian Army Intelligence Defence Corps. According to him, the defendant voluntarily gave his statement, while data extracted from his phone allegedly included pictures sent by soldiers complaining about their welfare, which were later posted on his Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube, and TikTok accounts.
The court admitted printouts from the social media accounts as exhibits. However, counsel to the defendant opposed the tendering of a flash drive and the defendant’s phone, arguing that the defence had not been provided with the contents of the devices.
The DSS had filed charges marked FHC/ABJ/CR/253/2026 against Justice Crack over alleged cybercrime offences tied to a viral video concerning the Nigerian Army. He was accused of circulating false information and publishing materials capable of causing public unrest through his X handle, @JusticeCrack, where he allegedly made claims about inadequate feeding of Nigerian soldiers.
Last Thursday, a lawyer from the Federal Ministry of Justice informed the court that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation had officially taken over the prosecution of the matter from the DSS in accordance with the law.