A Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital, on Thursday has granted bail to nineteen years old Charlotte Delhi, accused of sharing the nude video of a former Permanent Secretary on social media.
Dehli was also accused of cyberstalking the ex-Permanent Secretary of the Bayelsa State Ministry of Education, Dr. Walton Liverpool, and allegedly blackmailing him to extort 15 million naira.
The Department of State Services (DSS) had filed a one-count charge against the defendant alleging that she engaged in cyberstalking with the intention of blackmail in contravention of the cybercrime (prohibition, prevention etc.) Act, 2015.
After hearing the positions of the two counsels on bail, the judge, Justice Isa Dashen, granted bail of N5million and a surety with landed property within the jurisdiction of the state.
The motions on bail and commencement of trial were taken with counsels, Chief Legal officer of the DSS, Victor Uchendu, and a former Attorney-General of Bayelsa State and Counsel to the Defendant, Andrew Arthur.
Meanwhile, after granting the bail, the judge directed the commencement of the trial of the accused with the calling of former Permanent Secretary, Liverpool as the first witness.
In his revelation, Liverpool revealed he met the accused through her friend request on Facebook on August 23, 2021.
He said that he and the defendant also had a consenting sexual relationship at a popular hotel known as Golden Gate in the state capital.
However, Liverpool noted that the nude video allegedly released by the accused had caused him psychological and physical pains as he disclosed that he nearly committed suicide after his immediate and extended family viewed it on the Internet.
The presiding judge adjourned the case until November 9, 2021 to rule on the exhibit issue to be admitted by the court.
