News

Court remands blogger over defamatory story against Soludo, family

5 hours ago
by todaynews

The prosecution told the court that Mr Ofoegbu allegedly created and published fabricated and defamatory reports against the governor and his family to attract online traffic and generate financial gains.

A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Akwa, Anambra State, on Monday, remanded an online publisher and blogger, Ejike Ofoegbu, over alleged defamatory publications targeting Governor Charles Soludo and members of his family.

Mr Ofoegbu owns Igbo Times Magazine and INews.

Chief Magistrate C.O. Ezekwere ordered that the case be transmitted to the Anambra Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

Magistrate Ezekwere advised Ofoegbu to approach the High Court in Awka for bail, noting that the magistrate’s court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

The magistrate adjourned the case until 27 July for the report of compliance.

The complainant was represented by A.A. Nwanri and the Chief Security Officer to the Governor, O.K. Nkuma.

ѕєє νι∂єσ нєяє/a>

The Prosecution Counsel, Tochukwu Echemagu of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka, told the court that Mr Ofoegbu is charged with identity theft, defamation and cyberstalking.

The prosecution told the court that Mr Ofoegbu allegedly created and published fabricated and defamatory reports against the governor and his family to attract online traffic and generate financial gains.

The police alleged that the publications falsely claimed that Mr Soludo had disowned his son, Ozonna, and that the son described his father as “a drunkard who beat my mum,” and also alleged a drinking competition involving the governor and a minister.

The prosecution further told the court that although Mr Ofoegbu had earlier issued a public apology and retraction over the publications, he was still facing prosecution for criminal defamation, cyberstalking and identity theft under the relevant laws.

The police said the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 24(1)(b) and 38 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act of 2015, as well as Sections 373 and 375 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act.

(NAN)

You may also like

News

Appeal Court upholds order barring INEC from recognising ADC state congresses Story: The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld a Federal High Court judgment restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising or participating in state congresses organised by the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress. In a split judgment of two to one delivered on Monday, the appellate court affirmed the April 29 ruling of Justice Joyce Abdulmalik. The trial court had restrained INEC from recognising state congresses conducted by the party’s caretaker leadership, holding that the tenure of the ADC’s state working committees and state executive committees remains valid pending the conduct of properly constituted congresses and a national convention. Justice Abdulmalik ruled that neither the Constitution nor the party’s constitution empowers the caretaker National Working Committee led by former Senate President David Mark to appoint committees to conduct state congresses. The court held that the responsibility for conducting state congresses rests with the party’s state executive committees and not the national leadership. The suit was instituted by aggrieved party members, including Don Norman Obinna, Johnny Tovie Derek, Obah Ehigiator, Olona Yinka, Charles Omideji, Samuel Pam Gyang and Obianyo Patrick, who challenged the caretaker committee’s authority to organise the congresses. The plaintiffs argued that the caretaker leadership lacked the constitutional powers to conduct state congresses or appoint committees for that purpose, a position upheld by both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal.

8 minutes ago