The owner and publisher of Igbo Times Magazine and INews, Mr. Ejike Ofoegbu Experience, has publicly apologized to the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, his family, and his son, Ozonna, for publishing fabricated and false stories about them.
A trending online video, had shown Ejike openly admitting that the stories he published concerning Governor Soludo and his son were entirely fake, false, fabricated, and untrue.
According to him, none of the stories originated from Governor Soludo, his son, any member of his family, or any official representative.
He acknowledged that the reports were not based on verified facts or credible sources and should never have been presented as news.
“I wish to offer my deepest and most sincere apology to Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, the Governor of Anambra State, his family, and the general public,” he said.
Ejike disclosed that the false posts he published included the following fabricated claims:
“Breaking News: ‘I will arrest anyone who calls Ozo my son. He is not my son. I disowned him years ago, and he is no longer a member of the Soludo family.’”
“Just In: I Don’t Take Advice From My Father. He Was a Drunkard Who Beat My Mom When I Was Young. His Treatment of My Mother Made Me Decide Never to Take Advice From Him — ‘Soludo’s Son’ Speaks Out.”
“Breaking News: ‘I ordered Ozo from Temu. He is Chinese-made, not my son. Even at the hospital when he was born, I asked the doctor, “I hope you didn’t accidentally exchange my real son.” Ozo is from Temu,’ Soludo jokingly told reporters.”
“Breaking News: ‘They should organize a drinking competition between my father and Wike. I just want to see something. I’m willing to bet my life that my father would win. People don’t understand his drinking capacity.’ — Ozo.”
According to him, every one of the statements was entirely false and fabricated.
He urged members of the public not to regard any of them as factual reports or genuine quotations.
“I take full responsibility for publishing them,” he said.
Ejike further admitted that the false posts listed above were not the only fabricated stories he published about Governor Soludo.
“I also wish to acknowledge that the false posts listed above were not the only fabricated stories I published about Governor Soludo. Among other posts on Igbo Times Magazine and INews, I also published false and misleading stories involving Governor Soludo and Mr. Peter Obi, including claims that Mr. Peter Obi would defeat Governor Soludo in an election. Those stories were also completely false, were not based on any verified facts, and should never have been published,” he added.
He confessed that he published the fabricated stories in pursuit of online traffic, audience engagement, and financial gain.
According to him, he now realizes that no amount of money or online attention can justify spreading false information or damaging another person’s reputation.
“I deeply regret my actions and accept full responsibility for everything I published.
“I deeply regret the embarrassment, reputational harm, and misunderstanding these fabricated stories may have caused Governor Soludo, his family, his associates, and members of the public.
“To Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, I respectfully and humbly ask for your forgiveness. I sincerely apologize for my actions and for publishing information that was false,” he added.
“I am committed to correcting this mistake and ensuring that such an incident does not happen again.
“This statement serves as my full and unconditional retraction of those publications. They were false, fabricated, and should be disregarded in their entirety.
“Once again, I sincerely ask Governor Soludo, his family, and the general public to forgive me,” he said.
