Bail plea for “Justice Crack” stalls after defense lawyers clash in court

The bail application submitted by the detained social media influencer Justice Chidiebere, known as Justice Crack, was postponed at the Federal High Court in Abuja after a dispute arose between his lawyers over representation.

Judge Joyce Abdulmalik had scheduled a hearing for Mark’s bail request on May 4, shortly after he was arraigned by the Department of State Services (DSS) and pleaded not guilty to a three‑count charge.

The adjournment followed an application from Mark’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, who requested that the court allow his client to be released on bail pending trial.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the DSS, under charge FHC/ABJ/CR/253/2026, sued Crack as the sole defendant for alleged cybercrime offences related to a viral video about the Nigerian Army.

Mark was accused of circulating false information and publishing material that could provoke public unrest.

The defendant, reportedly arrested by the Nigerian Army, was charged with publishing the viral video and accompanying statements through his X handle, @JusticeCrack, alleging that soldiers were not being fed adequately.

When the case was presented on Thursday, Leyii Abueh of the Federal Ministry of Justice informed the court that the Attorney‑General of the Federation had taken over the matter from the DSS in accordance with the relevant law.

However, Femi Balogun and Abubakar both stood to announce their appearance for the defendant.

Balogun told the court that he had been briefed by Mark’s family to take the case and noted that a defence bail application had already been filed.

Abubakar insisted that he was the defendant’s lawyer, had been representing him, and had not been dismissed.

Judge Abdulmalik asked the defendant to identify his lawyer, and Mark pointed to Balogun.

In response, Abubakar filed a motion to withdraw all the processes he had submitted in the case, including the bail application that Balogun had relied on.

The judge dismissed Abubakar’s filings and postponed the hearing of the new bail application to May 18. (NAN)

The post ‘Justice Crack’ bail plea suffers setback as defence lawyers clash in court appeared first on Vanguard News.