Absence of NCDMB boss, Wabote stalls cyberstalking trial of Bayelsa blogger

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

The absence of Mr Simbi Wabote, Executive Secretary of Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Monday stalled the trial of Mr Bara Ogidi, a Bayelsa-based blogger facing charges of Cyberstalking at the Federal High Court Yenagoa.

The Department of State Security (DSS) is prosecuting Ogidi, for an alleged false report targeted at the Executive Secretary of NCDMB).

It was learnt that Wabote, listed as star witness to the DSS and slated to give evidence in the ongoing trial before Justice Isa Dashen was unavoidably absent and compelled an adjournment.

The defendant, who was granted bail by the court on June 19 was in court for his trial.

Court registry officials subsequently liaised with prosecution and defence counsels and fixed the next date for Nov 1.

Ogidi, a publisher of an online news medium, Tracknews, is facing two counts bordering on cyberstalking.

In the charges, the DSS alleged that Ogidi accused Wabote of offering him N10 million to lure him to testify in his favour in a defamation suit filed by the NCDMB Executive Secretary against Mr Jackson Ude.

“Count 1 “CYBERSTALKING, contrary to and punishable under Section 24(1)b of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015.

“You OGIDI BEN BARA on Feb. 11, caused a false information to be disseminated via various online newspaper outfits including “THE EAGLE ONLINE”.

The DSS said the publication caused annoyance, enmity, hatred and ill will towards Wabote.

The secret service said the offence of cyberstalking is contrary to and punishable under Section 24(1)b of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015.