The suspect being led into the courtroom
Kenechukwu Ofomah
Awka
A magistrate court sitting in Amawbia, Awka South Council Area of Anambra State has refused to grant bail to a self-styled online publisher and blogger, Ejike Ofoegbu, associated with Igbo Times Magazine and INews, who was on Monday, arraigned before it for publishing defamatory online content against Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo and his son, Ozonna.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, the publisher was arraigned by the Anambra State Police Command over allegations bordering on the publication of fabricated, untrue, and defamatory reports against the family of the Governor.
The arraignment followed the Command’s receipt of the suspect from the Department of State Services Awka, and the conclusion of Police investigations into a petition alleging the publication of false information capable of causing reputational harm and inciting public disaffection.
Recall that the defendant had issued a ‘Public Apology and Full Retraction,’ in spite of which he is still facing legal action under Nigerian cyber laws and the Criminal Code for acts including criminal defamation, cyberstalking, and identity theft/impersonation.
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When the suspect appeared in court today, the presiding Magistrate, C.O Ezekwere ordered the compilation and transmission of the original copy of the police case to the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, as well as records of the hearing in the Magistrate court.
The Magistrate, however, advised the accused counsel to proceed to the High Court, Awka to seek Bail, as the Magistrate Court lacks the jurisdiction to try the matter.
This followed entries by A.A. Nwanri who appeared for the plaintiff, as well as the Chief Security Officer to the Governor, O.K Nkuma and Inspector Tochukwu Echemagu of D-4 Section, State CID, Awka, for a motion exparte for the defendant’s remand in Awka Correctional Center.
The relevant sections of the law relied on by the plaintiff include Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act 2015 (specifically Section 24 1B regarding cyberstalking and Section 38 regarding identity theft), Criminal Code Act, Section 373 and 375 (regarding defamatory matter), 2024 Amendment to the Cybercrime Act.
27th of July, 2026 was set aside as hearing date for compliance, and the court also ordered that Ofoegbu be remanded in a correctional centre pending further proceeding.
Reacting to the arraignment, a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Daniel Ezeigwe has said the recent public apology by the Igbo Times Magazine and iNews blogger, Mr. Ejike Ofoegbu Experience, who published fabricated defamatory content against Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s family underscores the dangers of misinformation and the need for responsible journalism.
Speaking with the News Chronicle correspondent in Awka on Monday, Ezeigwe said the incident should serve as a lesson to bloggers, content creators and others who deliberately spread false information for political or commercial gains.
Ezeigwe noted that while the digital age has expanded opportunities for public expression, it has also increased the responsibility of those who publish information, warning that the pursuit of online relevance and traffic should not come at the expense of truth.
According to him, “The growing culture of sensationalism has encouraged some bloggers to rely on falsehoods, half-truths and deliberate distortions, with governments, public officials and institutions often becoming targets.
“While criticism remains a vital part of democracy it must be distinguished from the deliberate fabrication of stories intended to mislead the public.
“Society benefits when journalists and bloggers verify facts before publication, but suffers when malicious narratives are promoted to score political points or generate online engagement,” he said.
The governor’s aide also alleged that some misinformation campaigns are sponsored by individuals and groups seeking to tarnish reputations, create unnecessary tension and distract governments from governance.
He urged those behind such campaigns to desist, maintaining that falsehood may dominate public conversations temporarily but cannot permanently overshadow the truth.
Ezeigwe called on media practitioners and content creators to uphold professionalism and integrity in their work, while encouraging governments to remain open to constructive criticism.
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