The bail application filed by detained social media influencer Justice Chidiebere Mark, popularly known as Justice Crack, suffered a setback on Thursday after his lawyers clashed over legal representation at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik had fixed Thursday for hearing of Mark’s bail application after he was arraigned on May 4 by the Department of State Services (DSS) on a three-count cybercrime charge.
Mark pleaded not guilty to the charges. The adjournment had followed an application by his lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, who urged the court to grant his client bail pending trial.
The DSS accused Mark, in charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/253/2026, of circulating false information capable of causing public unrest through a viral video concerning the Nigerian Army.
According to the prosecution, the defendant published the video and accompanying statements through his X handle, @JusticeCrack, alleging inadequate feeding of Nigerian soldiers.
At Thursday’s proceedings, Leyii Abueh informed the court that the Attorney-General of the Federation had taken over the case from the DSS in line with relevant legal provisions.
However, a dispute arose when both Femi Balogun and Abubakar announced appearances for the defendant. Balogun told the court he had been briefed by Mark’s family to handle the case and referred to the existing bail application already before the court. Abubakar, however, insisted he remained the defendant’s counsel and had not been formally disengaged.
Justice Abdulmalik then asked Mark to identify his lawyer, and the defendant pointed to Balogun.
Following the development, Abubakar applied to withdraw all legal processes he had filed in the matter, including the bail application relied upon by Balogun.
The judge subsequently struck out the processes filed by Abubakar and adjourned the matter until May 18 for hearing of a fresh bail application.