The Federal Government has filed a six-count charge against nine individuals for allegedly disseminating false information concerning the rumored impeachment of Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/555/2024, was submitted at the Federal High Court in Abuja on October 21 by A. A. Yusuf, Deputy Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the defendants are accused of spreading false information on October 16, alleging that the Department of State Services (DSS) had surrounded the National Assembly to facilitate Akpabio’s impeachment.
The Incorporated Trustee of Order Paper, the online platform where the false report was allegedly published, was listed as the first defendant. Others named in the suit include Oke Epia, the Founder, Publisher, and Executive Director of Order Paper (second defendant), and Tony Okeke Ofodile, Head of Operations (third defendant).
Also joined as defendants are Edna Bill Ulaeto (Admin/Finance Executive, fourth defendant), Elizabeth Atime (National Assembly lead reporter and author of the report, fifth defendant), Regina Udo (Programmes Coordinator, sixth defendant), Leah Twaki (Social Media Executive, seventh defendant), Idongesit Joseph Ekoh (Admin Support, eighth defendant), and Edoesomi Sharon Omonegho (National Assembly correspondent, ninth defendant).
In the first count, the prosecution accuses the defendants, acting through the Order Paper platform, of knowingly publishing false information. The report claimed that the DSS had laid siege to the National Assembly to orchestrate Akpabio’s impeachment, an allegation the government says was false. This, the prosecution argues, constitutes an offence under Section 24(1)(a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, which prescribes penalties for such actions.
The second count alleges that the defendants intentionally published defamatory statements about the DSS and Akpabio through their online platforms.
The case has not yet been assigned to a judge as of the time of reporting.
