By Sunday Ani
The magistrates’ court in Apapa, Lagos State, on Tuesday, remanded an online news publisher, alongside officials of the National Theatre and National Troupe of Nigeria in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre over publication of false, defamatory and malicious reports.
The Chief Magistrate, Olanrewaju Olatunji, ordered the remand of the three suspects, pending the perfection of their bail conditions.
The defendants, publisher of the Society Reporters, an online news platform, Sunday Adebayo, alongside a Level 13 officer of the National Theatre, Ephesian Ndoza, and an associate professor at the University of Lagos, and Level 16 officer of the National Troupe of Nigeria, Dr. Shaibu Husseini, are standing trial for defamation of character and peddling of fake news against a businessman, philanthropist and traditional ruler of Otumara community, High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye, an offence punishable under section 95 (1) (b) of the criminal law of Lagos State of 2015.
In separate online publications, the suspects, on April 9, 2023, published defamatory reports in the Society Reporters and circulated same in Nairaland, Al Jazeera, and Newsbreak Naija, among other news platforms, under the headline, “Concerned Staff of National Theatre petition ICPC to wade into corrupt activities of top director, Femi Joel, and his co-conspirators.”
The prosecutor, Mike Enejere, told the court that the offences were committed on April 9, 2023, at the National Theatre, Lagos.
The charge read: “That you, Sunday Adebayo ‘M,’ Shaibu Husseni ‘M’ and Ephesian Nodza ‘M,’ on or about April 9, 2023, at the National Theatre, Lagos, within the magisterial jurisdiction of this honourable court, did conspire among themselves to bring false accusation against the person of a traditional ruler of Otumara community, High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye, knowing full well that he is innocent of the alleged offence. “You, hereby, committed an offence punishable under section 95 (1) (b) of the criminal law of Lagos State, 2015.
“That you, Sunday Adebayo ‘M,’ Shaibu Husseni ‘M,’ and Ephesian Ndoza ‘M,’ on the same date, place and within the magisterial district aforementioned, caused to be published and circulated, in the Society Reporter, an online news platform, Nairaland, Newsbreak Naija and Aljazira, information likely to provoke High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye, knowing same to be incorrect. You, thereby, committed an offence punishable under section 57 (b) of the criminal laws of Lagos State, 2015.”
The suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Chief Magistrate, Olatunji, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties resident within the jurisdiction. He must be gainfully employed and at a grade level 14 in the Federal or State Ministry, but not the Ministry of Education and Information. The sureties must possess landed property and must not be blood relations.
The court adjourned to December 14 for the commencement of trial or settlement.