The Anambra State Police Command has arraigned the owner and publisher of Igbo Times Magazine and iNews, Ejike Ofoegbu, over allegations of publishing false and defamatory reports against the family of Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
Ofoegbu was brought under police escort to Chief Magistrate Court 1 in Awka on Monday following the conclusion of investigations by the police after he was handed over by the Department of State Services (DSS).
At the end of the proceedings, the presiding magistrate, Justice Obiora, ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Anambra State Correctional Centre in Amawbia pending the hearing of the case.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Tochukwu Ikenga, the prosecution followed a petition accusing the blogger of publishing fabricated reports allegedly designed to damage the reputation of the governor’s family and stir public resentment.
Ikenga said police investigations revealed that the suspect published several reports within a short period containing what investigators described as false claims about Governor Soludo and members of his family.
The police alleged that the stories were entirely fabricated and were presented as direct quotations to create an impression of authenticity.
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According to the command, the publications were not the result of journalistic mistakes or inaccurate reporting but were deliberate attempts to mislead the public and tarnish the image of the governor’s family.
Investigators further claimed that Ofoegbu admitted during questioning that the stories were fabricated and published primarily to attract traffic to his blog.
The police described the case as a serious misuse of media platforms and said the prosecution was intended to ensure accountability through the judicial process.
While declining to comment extensively because the matter is already before the court, Ikenga urged journalists, bloggers and other media practitioners to adhere to professional ethics by verifying information before publication.
He also advised members of the public to rely on credible sources for information and avoid sharing unverified reports, warning that the deliberate dissemination of false information could attract legal sanctions under existing laws.
