The Federal Government has initiated a six-count legal action against nine individuals, stemming from allegations of spreading false information related to the recent impeachment rumors concerning Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The case, designated as FHC/ABJ/CR/555/2024, was submitted to the Federal High Court in Abuja on October 21 by A. A. Yusuf, the Deputy Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the defendants are accused of publishing misleading information on October 16, claiming that the Department of State Services (DSS) had surrounded the National Assembly with the intent to impeach Akpabio.
Named in the lawsuit are the Incorporated Trustee of Order Paper (the online platform where the false information was allegedly disseminated), Oke Epia (Founder/Publisher and Executive Director of Order Paper), and Tony Okeke Ofodile (Head of Operations), identified as the first to third defendants.
Additional defendants include Edna Bill Ulaeto (Admin/Finance Executive) and Elizabeth Atime (National Assembly lead reporter and author of the report), designated as the fourth and fifth defendants. The remaining defendants are Regina Udo (Coordinator of Programmes), Leah Twaki (Social Media Executive), Idongesit Joseph Ekoh (Admin Support), and Edoesomi Sharon Omonegho (National Assembly correspondent), listed as the sixth to ninth defendants, respectively.
In the first count, the prosecution alleges that the Order Paper (Incorporated Trustee), located at C12, Halima Plaza, Plot 1496, Balanga Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, along with its representatives Oke Epia, Tony Okeke Ofodile, Edna Bill Ulaeto, and Elizabeth Atime, among others, published false information via their online platform.
The defendants are accused of claiming that “the DSS laid siege to the National Assembly over plans to impeach the Senate President, which they knew to be untrue,” thus violating Section 24(1)(a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act 2015, and subject to penalties outlined in the same statute.
In the second count, the defendants and others not yet identified are accused of intentionally disseminating defamatory statements regarding the DSS and Senator Akpabio on their online platform.
As of the report’s filing, the case has not yet been assigned to a judge. (NAN)
