The bail application in the cybercrime case involving popular blogger and social media influencer Justice Mark Chidiebere, known as Justice Crack, has been withdrawn by his defence counsel, Marshal Abubakar, during proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice Crack is standing trial over allegations that he incited soldiers to create disaffection within the ranks of the Nigerian Army.
The matter, which was initially scheduled for hearing on May 25, was brought forward for an earlier sitting at the Abuja division of the Federal High Court.
At the resumed hearing, confusion emerged when lawyers representing the defendant appeared in court. Counsel from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation also announced that the AGF had taken over the prosecution of the case.
Tension rose when both Olufemi Balogun and Marshal Abubakar stood up to announce appearance for the defendant. Abubakar maintained he was still the lawyer on record from the previous adjournment, while Balogun told the court he had been newly instructed to take over the defence.
The trial judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, then asked Justice Crack to clarify who was representing him, and he confirmed Balogun as his counsel.
Following this clarification, Abubakar stepped down from the matter and also withdrew the bail application he had filed earlier. With that withdrawal, the court was left without a pending bail request, prompting a delay in that aspect of the proceedings.
Balogun informed the court that he would be filing a fresh bail application on behalf of the defendant.
The judge subsequently adjourned the case to May 18 for hearing and directed the prosecution to open its case on that date, warning that failure to proceed could result in the case being struck out for lack of diligent prosecution.
After the court session ended, some supporters and associates of Justice Crack reportedly confronted Marshal Abubakar over his withdrawal from the case.
