The Federal Government has commenced the prosecution of a man, Ibezim Chike Victor, accused of being behind some publications, claiming that the former works and housing minister authored the judgments of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) that dismissed the petitions by the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Victor, who is alleged to be one of the three individuals linked to the publications, has been arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a six-count charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/434/2023.

He is charged with criminal conspiracy, cyberstalking, and defamation, among others. The case, now before Justice Bolaji Olajuwon, has been adjourned till April 15 for continuation of trial.

The charge reads:

*That you Ibezim Chike Victor, male with Jackson Udeh, Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim and Reportera.ng (body corporate) now at large on or about 05/08/2023 at Abuja, did commit an illegal Act to wit: criminal conspiracy; when you jointly agreed to publish a defamatory statement of false allegations in your online social media, the reportera.ng news, against His Excellency Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, CON, without justification, you thereby commit offence punishable under Section 27(1)(b) of the Cyber-crime Prohibition, Prevention Act 2015.

*That you Ibezim Chike Victor, male, with Jackson Udeh, Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim and Reportera.ng (body corporate) now at large on or about 05/08/2023 at Abuja, did commit illegal Act to wit: Cyber stalking against His Excellency Hon. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, CON, the immediate past Honourable minister for Works and Housing, false allegation through reportera. ng online news that “Nigeria Army takes siege of his Excellency Fashola’s Abuja residence, restrict movement to and fro the former Minister of Works and Housing, amidst the scare of a possible miscarriage of justice at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) and with Fashola’s rumoured involvement in drafting a controversial verdict to throw out the case of opposition parties LP and PDP.

That the Nigeria Army has barricaded the Abuja residence of Babatunde Fashola, the immediate past Minister of Works and Housing and Tinubu stooge and close confidant.” That the hatred, ill-will, needless anxiety and criminal intimidation, is being operated by Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim with phone number 06146435568, without justification, you thereby commit offence punishable under section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes Prohibition, Prevention Act 2015.

*That you Ibezim Chike Victor, male, with Jackson Udeh, Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim and Reportera.ng (body corporate) now at large on or about 05/08/2023 at Abuja, did commit illegal act to wit: injurious falsehood; when you publish in your social media, through the online reportera.ng news, hate and false speeches against his Excellency Hon. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, CON, that he drafted a controversial verdict in the case of opposition parties LP and PDP respectfully and that Nigerian Army have taken siege of his Abuja residence, restrict movement to and fro, to tarnish and injure the good image of His Excellency Hon. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, CON, without justification, you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 393 of Penal Code law.

*That you Ibezim Chike Victor, male, with Jackson Udeh, Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim and Reportera.ng (body corporate) now at large on or about 05/08/2023 at Abuja, did commit illegal act to wit: criminal defamation; when you, through the online reportera.ng news, published the above false defamatory statements that his Excellency Hon. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, CON, drafted a controversial) verdict, to throw out the case of opposition parties LP and PDP and that the immediate past Minister of Works and Housing and Tinubu’s stooge and close confidant. You published the said online news on your web page X to tarnish the good reputation of His Excellency Hon. Babatunde Raji Fashola as a former Governor of Lagos State and Minister of Federal Republic of Nigeria before the eyes of the public without justification. You thereby commit an offence punishable under Section 392 of the Penal Code law.

Count V

That you Ibezim Chike Victor, ‘M’ with Jackson Udeh, Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim & Reportera.ng body corporate now at large on or about 05/08/2023 at Abuja, did commit illegal act to wit: Influencing cause of justice; when you intentional published defamatory statements against his Excellency Hon. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, CON, and the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) with intend to influence the cause of justice that his Excellency drafted a controversial verdict of the election petition to throw out the case of opposition parties LP and PDP for the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal Panel without justification. You thereby commit offence punishable under Section 182 of the Penal Code law.

*That you Ibezim Chike Victor, male, with Jackson Udeh, Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim & Reportera.ng body corporate now at large on or about 05/08/2023 at Abuja, did commit illegal act to wit: Inciting disturbance of public peace; when you published a defamatory statement against both his Excellency Hon. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, CON, and the Presidential Election Petition Panel, to incite supporters of both LP and PDP parties against the Hon. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, CON, and Presidential Election Petition Panel without justification. You thereby commit an offence punishable under section 114 of the Penal Code law.

Korectmann:
The way this vindictive Fashola is going about this case shows he might be guilty of what the guy accused him of.

Slytiger:

Are you okay?

Slytiger:

Are you okay?

Killerofpigs:
He/she is ok.

Why is the issue paining Fashola, when same Fashola said unconformable accusations against others.

What is good for the goose is also good for the gander.

Just don't protest because the army will shoot to kill and nothing like SOUTHERN UNITY AGAIN.

Korectmann:
The way this vindictive Fashola is going about this case shows he might be guilty of what the guy accused him of.

Paraman:
A very very good news

Slytiger:

Inknow you lie and even if it is true which I highly doubt, then let those others take Fashola to court.

Slytiger:

Extremely good news. This will teach fake news merchants a big lesson.

Ofunaofu:
When will Bayo Onanuga, MC Oluomo, and their thugs and hoodlums be tried for the killing, maiming, and destruction of lives and properties of people believed to be from a particular ethnic group because of their democratic choice?

adamusuleiman1:

What about those that killed APC members in Ndemili south LGA of Anambra 2 years ago.

Ofunaofu:


I am not holding brief for anyone

All should be tried for crimes committed

Korectmann:
The way this vindictive Fashola is going about this case shows he might be guilty of what the guy accused him of.

CannibalTorment:
Good, let the man go and proof the case in court, when you run your mouth to bring people down, and it backfires, you will bear the consequences, and I am sure Peter girigory Obi and Atiku they were defending will be somewhere enjoying and carousing with government officials

Ofunaofu:
When will Bayo Onanuga, MC Oluomo, and their thugs and hoodlums be tried for the killing, maiming, and destruction of lives and properties of people believed to be from a particular ethnic group because of their democratic choice?

Korectmann:
The way this vindictive Fashola is going about this case shows he might be guilty of what the guy accused him of.

adamusuleiman1:

Peter Obi that attended an APC Owambe (Gbenga Daniel's wife) over the weekend. He even wore aso ebi cap sef

FreeStuffsNG:

You are already booking your own trial for cyberbullying crime and criminal defamation. You will be so naive that after all these registrations, you can be anonymous to the government. It's this your post that will eventually be used against you in court during your criminal prosecution.

Most of you just don't learn that you can disagree with someone without criminally defaming and cyberbullying the person who holds a different opinion from your own. Smh

Ofunaofu:
When will Bayo Onanuga, MC Oluomo, and their thugs and hoodlums be tried for the killing, maiming, and destruction of lives and properties of people believed to be from a particular ethnic group because of their democratic choice?

Ofunaofu:
When will Bayo Onanuga, MC Oluomo, and their thugs and hoodlums be tried for the killing, maiming, and destruction of lives and properties of people believed to be from a particular ethnic group because of their democratic choice?