May 18, (THEWILL) — The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail in the sum of N5 million to social media influencer, Justice Mark, popularly known as “Justice Crack,” who is standing trial over alleged cybercrime offences linked to a viral video concerning the Nigerian Army.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who delivered the ruling on Monday, ordered that the defendant must provide one surety in like sum as part of the bail conditions.
The court held that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction at a verifiable address for not less than four years and must provide proof of residence through either a tenancy agreement or certificate of occupancy to be deposited at the court registry.
Justice Abdulmalik further directed that the surety must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 15, with evidence of at least three months’ salary, a letter of authentication from the immediate head of department, proof of pensionable employment, an affidavit of means, and a recent passport photograph.
The judge also ordered the defendant to deposit his international passport with the court registry pending the determination of the case.
At the resumed proceedings, prosecution counsel, M.L. Jackson, informed the court that the prosecution was ready to commence trial and subsequently called its first witness, identified as Douglas Uruntu, a Department of State Services (DSS) operative.
While being led in evidence, the witness told the court that he became involved in the investigation after his transfer from the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps to the DSS.
Uruntu testified that the defendant voluntarily made an extra-judicial statement in the presence of his lawyers during the course of the investigation.
According to the witness, some soldiers allegedly sent pictures to the defendant, who then reportedly produced videos from the images and shared them on social media without verifying the authenticity of the materials with military authorities.
The DSS operative further stated that investigators extracted data from the defendant’s phone, including videos allegedly uploaded online, conversations with soldiers, chats with a person described as his godfather, as well as excerpts from his social media accounts.
He added that a certificate of compliance was issued and signed by a superior officer following the completion of the forensic examination.
However, defence counsel, Sam Amadi, objected to aspects of the prosecution’s evidence, informing the court that the defence had not been served with the investigation report and other documents the prosecution sought to tender.
Responding, the prosecution described the omission as an oversight and apologised before the court.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently admitted the DSS investigation report as Exhibit A.
The prosecution also tendered an iPhone allegedly recovered from the defendant, alongside a flash drive said to contain videos posted on social media platforms, extracted conversations, and the accompanying certificate of compliance.
Amadi, however, opposed the admissibility of the flash drive because its contents had neither been described nor played before the court.
Following arguments by counsel, the court adjourned the matter until May 25 for the continuation of the trial.
Justice Mark is being prosecuted by the DSS in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/253/2026 over allegations bordering on cybercrime and dissemination of materials allegedly capable of causing public unrest.
The defendant was accused of publishing a viral video and accompanying statements through his X handle, @JusticeCrack, alleging inadequate feeding of Nigerian soldiers.
