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03.02.2025 Featured Police Quietly Release TikToker Destiny Ekhurutomwem, Afraid He Could ‘Die in Detention’

Published 3rd Feb, 2025

By Abimbola Abatta

Destiny Ekhurutomwem, the TikToker slammed with a hefty N2 billion bail condition in January, was quietly released on Saturday after slumping in police custody.

An individual involved in the TikToker’s case told FIJ that the police hurriedly released Ekhurutomwem so he wouldn’t die in custody.

According to a statement by the police, Ekhurutomwem “allegedly created and operated multiple social media accounts to disseminate false and inciting content aimed at provoking the public against the Nigeria Police.”

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) arrested the TikToker on December 8, 2024, in Benin City, Edo State, for cyberbullying and cyberstalking. They transferred him to Abuja on January 10.

That same day, the police told Ekhurutomwem to provide four sureties with assets worth N2 billion as part of his administrative bail conditions.

The police bail document

READ MORE: Police Slam ‘Outrageous’ N2bn Bail on TikToker Detained for Cyberbullying

However, Ekhurutomwem could not meet the stringent bail conditions, which was the reason for his prolonged detention. The news of the bail terms led to public outcry, with many, including lawyers, describing them as outrageous and ridiculous.

A close source to Ekhurutomwem told FIJ that he slumped in custody on Saturday and was first rushed to the police clinic for treatment. He would later be transferred to the national hospital for further treatment.

According to FIJ’s source, the police released him on bail due to concerns about his well-being in their custody. Also, unlike the former requirement for four sureties, only one person stood as Ekhurutomwem’s surety.

“It was because of the fear of the guy not dying in their (the police) hands that they hurriedly release him. So, this time, just a single person was the surety, a family friend of theirs,” the source disclosed.

A letter dated January 14 written by Ekhurutomwem’s lawyers to apply for variations of the bail conditions to the most liberal terms states that he is being “managed for a complicated Appendix surgery that led to a Laparotomy (overhaul of the abdominal content) and was just diagnosed with Nephrolithiasis (kidney stone)”.

Ekhurutomwem collapsed at the weekend in connection to his underlying health issues.

READ ALSO: Dele Farotimi: What Determines Bail Conditions?

The letter by his legal team.
A diagnosis from the hospital.

READ ALSO: ANALYSIS: PIDOM’s Bail Is Impossible. Level 16 Civil Servants Need More Than 150 Years to Afford N500m

FIJ understands that Ekhurutomwem’s lawyers did not receive a formal petition written against him nor has the police charged him to court.

“The most important thing to note is that since his arrest, he has not been charged with any crime. He wasn’t taken to court. Nothing happened until he had the episode on Saturday,” said the source to FIJ.

“He was rushed to the police clinic and from there to the National Hospital to get adequate care.

“It was because of the fear of the guy not dying in their (the police) hands that they hurriedly release him. So, this time, just a single person was the surety, a family friend of theirs.”

Muyiwa Adejobi, the spokesperson for the police force, could not be reached for comments on Monday afternoon, as his call, WhatsApp and text messages had not been responded to at press time.

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Published 3rd Feb, 2025

By Abimbola Abatta

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