On Thursday, Muyiwa Adejobi, spokesman of the Nigeria Police Force, said Oriyomi Hamzat, a broadcaster, was arrested in connection with a case of cyberbullying under investigation.

Hamzat was arrested on Thursday morning in Ibadan, capital of Oyo State, with Adebayo Yousuph, Head of Station, Agidigbo FM, founded by Hamzat.

Hamzat premised the action on his consistent call for due diligence in the trial of businessman Rahman Adegoke Adedoyin for the death of Timothy Adegoke, which happened under questionable circumstances. But responding via a tweet, Adejobi said the popular Ibadan-based broadcaster was arrested by operatives of the Force Intelligence Bureau who had a warrant.

“Oriyomi’s arrest was sequel to his refusal to honour police invitation severally, which prompted the police to secure a warrant for his arrest,” he said.

READ MORE: Police Explain Reason for Arresting Broadcast Journalist Oriyomi Hamzat

“We are looking into the petition written against him on his violation of the Cyber Crime Act, 2015, and necessary action will be taken to do justice in the matter.”

Hamzat was released on Thursday evening but investigations continue.

WHAT THE LAW SAYS (CYBER CRIME ACT, 2015)

Part 3, item 24 of the Cyber Crime Act addresses offences related to cyberbullying. It reads:

24. Any person who knowingly or intentionally sends a message or other matter by means of computer systems or network that -­‐

(b) he knows to be false, for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will or needless anxiety to another or causes such a message to be sent: commits an offence under this Act and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of not more than N7,000,000.00 or imprisonment for a term of not more than 3 years or to both such fine and imprisonment.

READ MORE: FIB Arrests Radio Presenter Oriyomi Hamzat ‘Over Comments on Timothy Adegoke’s Murder’

(2) Any person who knowingly or intentionally transmits or causes the transmission of any communication through a computer system or network -­‐ (a) to bully, threaten or harass another person, where such communication places

(i) in the case of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection to imprisonment for a term of 10 years and/or a minimum fine of N25,000,000.00; and
(ii) in the case of paragraph (c) and (d) of this subsection, to imprisonment for a term of 5 years and/or a minimum fine of N15,000,000.00.

Timothy Adegoke died under mysterious circumstances in November. He had travelled to Ile-Ife from Abuja with the hope of sitting for exams at the OAU Distance Learning Centre. He was initially declared missing on November 7, but his corpse was soon found near Hilton Hotel and Resorts, Ile-Ife, owned by Adedoyin.