Ondo Community Leaders Plead for Clemency as Social Crusader Faces Federal Cyberstalking Charges Over Social Media Criticism of Interior Minister

Leaders of Ilaje-Omuro community beg Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo for clemency toward activist Emorioloye Owolemi over alleged cyberstalking.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 16, 2026, 11:34 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Independent

Community Intervention in High-Profile Cybercrime Trial

In a formal gesture of mediation, community leaders from Ilaje-Omuro in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State have stepped in to address the ongoing legal battle involving social crusader Emorioloye Owolemi. In a letter addressed to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the leaders have requested that the federal government withdraw the cyberstalking charges currently pending against the activist. The appeal, made on Monday, March 16, 2026, seeks to resolve the tension through compassion and community-led rehabilitation rather than continued litigation in the Federal High Court.

Allegations of Offensive Social Media Communications

The legal proceedings against Owolemi began several weeks ago following his arraignment at the Federal High Court sitting in Akure. The Federal Government has leveled a two-count charge against the activist, specifically focusing on alleged cyberstalking and the dissemination of offensive online communications. According to court documents in suit no: FHC/AK/3C/26, Owolemi is accused of using his Facebook account to post statements that were considered menacing toward the minister. The prosecution alleges that these posts, which reportedly questioned the minister’s academic or professional credentials in December 2025, contravene the strict provisions of the Cybercrimes Act.

Appealing to the Minister’s Compassion

The letter, signed by the community chairman Babatunde Omobone, was carefully crafted to balance an apology with praise for the minister’s performance. While acknowledging that Owolemi’s actions were "unacceptable" and caused embarrassment to the Ministry of Interior, the leaders attributed the behavior to a lack of understanding regarding the gravity of digital laws. They described the activist’s conduct as an act of "naivety" rather than calculated malice. The community leaders expressed their belief that Owolemi has learned a significant lesson from his arrest and subsequent legal troubles and is now genuinely remorseful.