By Christopher Oji
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested an online blogger, Stanley Okoruwa, for allegedly defaming international businessman, Emeka Okonkwo, popularly known as “E Money”.
The suspect, who was paraded before newsmen, yesterday, at state command headquarters, Ikeja, confessed to the crime and claimed to have used the offensive video to boost his online followers.
Stanley, in the said video, had accused the businessman of having illicit affairs with the wife of the late Nollywood star, John Odonwodo, aka Junior Pope. He also accused the businessman of being responsible for the death of the late Nollywood star, who died in a boat accident.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations (PPRO), SP Benjamin Hundyin, told newsmen that the suspect would be prosecuted for cyber bullying and defamation of character. He said the suspect was arrested in Uromi, Delta State following a petition from the businessman.
Hundeyin said: “He is going to be prosecuted, because the things he engaged in were criminal in nature. He has allegedly defamed E-Money and he is going to be prosecuted. We are not prosecuting the suspect because of the personality involved, but because he has allegedly committed crime, the personality went through the normal channel by reporting the case to the police and we investigated and arrested the suspect,” the police image maker added.
Hundeyin warned social media users against contents that are injurious to other people’s personalities, stressing that action may be taken against them if reports of their contents were found offensive by anyone.
The suspect, while addressing newsmen, said: “I did a video about E-Money. I said a lot of things that are not true in that video, that is why the police arrested me. I said something regarding a video I saw online about a woman – saying that Sir E-Money is responsible for the things that happened to Nollywood actor, John Odonwodo, aka Junior Pope.
“I also said that Sir E-Money was also having affairs with Junior Pope’s wife. I have never in my life met E-Money. Everything I made in that video was not true. I made the video out of trying to boost my page traffic level. I never knew it would go viral the way it went. I don’t intend to spoil Sir E-Money’s name. I was just making the video, I didn’t know it would go so wide.
“I know the contents of the video were wrong of me to have made. I didn’t know the video would escalate to that extent. I saw that the video was already going viral and I thought pulling it down would not make sense, so I decided to leave it. I have not reached out to E-Money to apologise, because I don’t have his contact to do so.
“I was already planning to make an apology video when I was arrested by the police. I have been praying to have this opportunity to apologise to him. I am very sorry Sir E-Money, I didn’t mean to tarnish his image online. I only wanted to generate traffic.”