FG charges nine over Akpabio’s impeachment rumour

The Federal Government has filed a six-count charge against nine defendants over allegations bordering on disseminating false information on the recent rumour about the impeachment of the Senate President, Godswil Akpabio.

The charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/555/2024, was filed at a Federal High Court in Abuja on October 21 by the Deputy Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, A. A. Yusuf.

The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the defendants were alleged to have published the false information on October 16 that the Department of State Services laid siege to the National Assembly with a view to effecting Akpabio’s impeachment.

The Federal Government sued the Incorporated Trustee of Order Paper (on whose online platform the false information was allegedly published), Oke Epia (Founder/Publisher and Executive Director of Order Paper), and Tony Okeke Ofodile (Head of Operations) as first to third defendants.

Also joined as fourth and fifth defendants were Edna Bill Ulaeto (Admin/Finance Executive) and Elizabeth Atime (National Assembly lead reporter, author of report).

Others were Regina Udo (Coordinator of Programmes), Leah Twaki (Social Media Executive), Idongesit Joseph Ekoh (Admin Support) and Edoesomi Sharon Omonegho (National Assembly correspondent) as sixth to 9th defendants respectively.

In count one, the prosecution accused the Order Paper (Incorporated Trustee), of Suit C12, Halima Plaza, Plot 1496, Balanga Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, through its agents; Oke Epia, Tony Okeke Ofordile, Edna Bill Ulacto, and Elizabeth Atime, and others at large, of publishing a false information via its online platform.

They were said to have on or about October 16 alleged that “the DSS laid siege to the National Assembly over plans to impeach the Senate President, which you knew to be false, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 24(1)(a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act 2015 and punishable under the same section.”

The defendants and others at large, in count two, were alleged to have intentionally published defamatory statements regarding the DSS and Akpabio on their online platforms.

The case is yet to be assigned to a judge as of the time of filing the report.