A Magistrate Court sitting in Amawbia, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Monday denied bail to a self-styled online publisher and blogger, Ejike Ofoegbu, over alleged defamatory publications targeting Governor Chukwuma Soludo and his son, Ozonna.
Ofoegbu, who is associated with Igbo Times Magazine and iNews, was arraigned by the Anambra State Police Command on charges bordering on the alleged publication of false and defamatory online content against the governor’s family.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, said the defendant was arraigned after the police received him from the Department of State Services in Awka and concluded investigations into a petition alleging that he published false information capable of damaging the reputation of the governor’s family and inciting public disaffection.
The police said the suspect had earlier issued a public apology and retracted the publication but is still facing prosecution under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act and the Criminal Code over allegations of criminal defamation, cyberstalking and identity theft/impersonation.
When the matter came up on Monday, the presiding Magistrate, C.O. Ezekwere, ordered that the original police case file and the records of proceedings before the Magistrate Court be transmitted to the Attorney General and the Anambra State Ministry of Justice.
The magistrate also advised the defendant’s counsel to approach the High Court in Awka for bail, explaining that the Magistrate Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the application or try the case.
The order followed submissions by the prosecution counsel, A.A. Nwanri, alongside the Chief Security Officer to the Governor, O.K. Nkuma, and Inspector Tochukwu Echemagu of the D-4 Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka, who sought an ex parte order remanding the defendant at the Awka Correctional Centre.
According to the police, the charges are based on provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, including Section 24(1)(b) on cyberstalking and Section 38 on identity theft, as well as Sections 373 and 375 of the Criminal Code relating to defamation and the 2024 amendment to the Cybercrimes Act.
The court adjourned the matter until July 27, 2026, for compliance.
Reacting to the arraignment, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Daniel Ezeigwe, said the blogger’s public apology and retraction underscored the dangers of misinformation and highlighted the need for responsible journalism.
Speaking with The News Chronicle 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 gain.
He noted that while the digital age had expanded opportunities for public expression, it had also increased the responsibility of those who publish information, warning that the quest for online relevance and traffic should never 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.”
Ezeigwe further 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 discourse temporarily but cannot permanently overshadow the truth.
He also called on media practitioners and content creators to uphold professionalism, ethical standards and integrity while encouraging governments to remain open to constructive criticism.
