A federal high court in Abuja has granted bail in the sum of five million naira to Chidiebere Mark, the social media influencer popularly known as “Justice Crack”.
In a ruling on Monday, Joyce Abdulmalik, presiding judge, said the defendant must provide one surety in like sum.
The judge held that the surety must have lived within the court’s jurisdiction at a verifiable address for at least four years and submit proof of residence through a tenancy agreement or certificate of occupancy.
She added that the surety must be a federal civil servant on grade level 15 or above, with evidence of salary payments for at least three months, confirmation from the head of department, and proof of pensionable employment.
The court also ordered the surety to file an affidavit of means and submit a recent passport photograph.
Chidiebere was directed to surrender his international passport to the court.
At the resumed hearing, the prosecution said it was prepared to open its case.
Uruntu Douglas, a Department of State Services (DSS) operative who testified as the first prosecution witness, said he became involved in the investigation after the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps transferred the defendant to the DSS.
Douglas told the court that Mark made a statement voluntarily in the presence of his lawyers.
He alleged that the defendant received photographs from soldiers, produced videos from the images, and shared them online without verifying the materials with military authorities.
The witness said investigators later extracted materials from the defendant’s phone, including videos allegedly uploaded to social media, chats with soldiers, conversations linked to planned protests, and content from his social media accounts.
Douglas added that a certificate of compliance was issued after the forensic analysis and endorsed by a superior officer.
During the proceedings, Sam Amadi, counsel to the defendant, objected to the tendering of some prosecution documents, saying the defence had not been served with the investigation report and related materials beforehand.
The prosecution apologised, describing the failure to serve the documents as an oversight.
The court subsequently admitted the DSS investigation report in evidence.
Other items tendered included an iPhone said to have been recovered from the defendant, a flash drive containing alleged social media videos, extracted conversations, and the certificate of compliance.
Amadi opposed the admission of the flash drive, arguing that the prosecution had not identified or played its contents in court.
The matter was adjourned until May 25 for continuation of trial.
Mark is facing trial on a three-count charge bordering on alleged cybercrime offences linked to a viral video about the feeding conditions of Nigerian soldiers.
The defendant, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, was arraigned by the DSS on May 4.
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