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By Chidiebere Onyemaizu
An online publisher, Ejike Ofoegbu, publisher of uIgbo Times Magazine and INews, was on Monday arraigned before a Magistrate Court sitting in Amawbia, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, over alleged defamatory publications against Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.
Ofoegbu was arraigned on charges bordering on criminal defamation and alleged cyber-related offences. His application for bail was declined, following which he was remanded at the Awka Correctional Centre. The matter was adjourned to July 27, 2026.
The prosecution alleged that the defendant orchestrated a campaign of misinformation targeting Governor Soludo and members of his family, particularly his son, Ozonna. It further accused him of authoring and publishing false and malicious reports intended to attract online traffic and generate unlawful financial gain.
According to the prosecution, the publications included claims that Governor Soludo had disowned his son, as well as a report alleging that the governor participated in a “drinking competition” with a federal minister.
The prosecution is relying on provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, including Section 24(1)(b) on cyberstalking and Section 38 on identity theft, as amended by the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act, 2024. The defendant was also charged under Sections 373 and 375 of the Criminal Code Act relating to criminal defamation.
During the proceedings, counsel to the complainant, A.A. Nwanri, alongside the Chief Security Officer to the Governor, CSP O.K. Nkuma, and Inspector Tochukwu Echemagu of the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), urged the court to remand the defendant in the Awka Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.
In his ruling, the presiding Magistrate, C.O. Ezekwere, held that the Magistrate Court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter. He consequently ordered that the case file be forwarded to the Anambra State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice for appropriate legal action.
The magistrate further advised the defendant to approach the High Court in Awka if he wished to seek bail.
Although Ofoegbu had earlier issued a public apology to Governor Soludo and formally retracted the disputed publications, the governor’s legal team proceeded with the prosecution.
