FG files charges against HEDA boss, Suraju on alleged cyberstalking

The Federal Government has filed charges against Chairman of Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, for allegedly cyberstalking former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Mohammed Adoke.

The suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/370/2021, at the Federal High Court, Abuja, is coming six months after Suraju was arrested by the police following a petition by the former AGF.

The police had on April 15 interrogated Suraju over a forgery petition by Adoke, demanding probe of email evidence presented against him by prosecutors in the Malabu trial in Milan, Italy, admitting that the Malabu transaction was a scam.

According to the lead prosecution counsel, Mr. A.O. Shaibu, the HEDA boss’ actions violate Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act, 2015, with the aim to dent the image of Mr. Adoke.

In count one, Suraju is accused of intentionally circulating an audio telephone interview between Ms. Carlamaria Rumur, a reporter with RIAReporter in Italy and Mohammed Adoke via his twitter handle @HEDAagenda, which he knew to be false, for the purpose of causing insult to Adoke and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention ETC) Act 2015 and punishable under the same section of the Act.

In count 2, Suraju is accused of committing the same alleged offence in count one through the Twitter handle @HEDAResourcecentre.

In count 3, he is accused of intentionally circulating an email dated June 21, 2011, alleged to have been sent with the email address agroupproperties@yahoo.com owned by A Group Properties and received by a certain Osoluke Bayo O. with the email address bayo.o.osoluke@ipmorgan, “which you knew to be false via your Twitter handle @HEDAagenda for the purpose of causing insult to Adoke and hereby committed an offense contrary to section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention ETC) Act 2015 and punishable under the same section of the Act.”

In count 4, the defendant is accused of committing the same offense in count three via the Facebook handle @HEDAResourcecentre.