Encomium
Matharoo sisters are in Canada, and have vowed not to attend their trial in Nigeria…because of the oversight of the prosecution.
Jyoti and Kiran Matharoo even claimed in one of their recent interviews that policemen asked for gratification so that their bail would not be opposed before the magistrate (Mr. A.O. Ojo of Yaba Magistrate court).
And with the stance of the Canadian High Commission, through its Immigrations, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, which issued emergency travel documents to them on December 31, 2016, there are no travel and bail restrictions on them.
When they were brought to court on December 23, the sisters were charged for cyber bullying, blackmail and extortion under sections 24 and 27 of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2015.
Their plea was not taken, and they were granted bail of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.
The police, thinking because they were in possession of their passports, the ladies would attend court sessions diligently, have been proven wrong.
With a bench warrant issued against Jyoti and Kiran Matharoo, and two of their sureties (Alhaji Wahab Shobulo and Ade Oregbesan), who are at large, it is unclear what options the prosecution have.
