The arraignment of two suspects, Adebayo Aliu and Fatuntele Tunde, on Monday for allegedly defaming Moniepoint Microfinance Bank suffered a setback at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The case, filed by the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police against the duo before Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, could not proceed due to judge’s absence.
The court subsequently fixed July 21 for the arraignment of Aliu and Tunde.
The matter had experienced a number of adjournments since the case was filed.
Their arraignment earlier scheduled for March 11 could not proceed due to the absence of the defendants in court.
When the case was called then, neither the defendants nor their lawyer was in court.
Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia consequently adjourned the matter until April 27 for arraignment.
But the matter could also not go on on April 27.
The I-G, in the charge, preferred a seven count bordering on cyberstalking against the defendants.
The charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/122/2026, was filed by Anthony Egwu, a police officer.
In count one, Aliu and Tunde were alleged to have, sometime in January 2026, conspired, aided and abetted each other to cyberstalk Moniepoint Microfinance Bank by creating a fraudulent platform to solicit online tumultuous engagement.
They were alleged to have promised the sum of N500,000 to unsuspecting victim who would comment with the phrase “Moniepoint Scandal” and share any imaginary scandalous experience regarding Moniepoint MFB, for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order.
The police said the offence is contrary to Section 27(2)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015 (as amended) in 2024 and punishable under Section 24(1)(b) of the same Act.