Blogger in Court Over Defamatory Posts About Soludo and Family

A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Akwa, Anambra State, on Monday, sent an online publisher and blogger, Ejike Ofoegbu, to jail for alleged defamatory posts about Governor Charles Soludo and his family.

Mr Ofoegbu runs Igbo Times Magazine and INews.

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

Magistrate Ezekwere told Ofoegbu to go to the High Court in Awka for bail, saying the magistrate’s court could not handle the case.

The magistrate postponed the case until 27 July for a report on compliance.

A.A. Nwanri represented the complainant, along with O.K. Nkuma, the Chief Security Officer to the Governor.

Tochukwu Echemagu, the Prosecution Counsel from the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka, said Mr Ofoegbu faces charges of identity theft, defamation, and cyberstalking.

The prosecution explained that Mr Ofoegbu allegedly made and shared false and defamatory stories about the governor and his family to gain online attention and make money.

The police claimed that these posts falsely stated that Mr Soludo had disowned his son, Ozonna, and that the son called his father “a drunkard who beat my mum.” They also mentioned a drinking contest involving the governor and a minister.

The prosecution added that even though Mr Ofoegbu had previously apologized and retracted the posts, he is still being prosecuted for criminal defamation, cyberstalking, and identity theft under the relevant laws.

The police stated that these actions violated 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.