Court Denies Bail to Online Publisher Over Alleged Defamatory Campaign Against Gov. Soludo
An online publisher, Ejike Ofoegbu, has been denied bail after being arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Amawbia, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, over allegations of publishing false and defamatory reports targeting Governor Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo and members of his family.
Ofoegbu, who operates Igbo Times Magazine and INews, appeared before the court on Monday, July 13, 2026, to answer charges bordering on the alleged dissemination of fabricated and malicious online content.
According to the prosecution, the defendant orchestrated a sustained misinformation campaign against Governor Soludo, including claims that the Governor had disowned his son, Ozonna, attributed false statements to the Governor’s son, and published reports alleging a fictitious drinking contest involving the Governor and a federal minister. Prosecutors alleged that the publications were intended to attract online traffic and generate financial gains through sensational and misleading content.
The case is being prosecuted under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, including Section 24(1)(b) on cyberstalking and Section 38 on identity theft, alongside provisions of the Cybercrime (Amendment) Act, 2024. The defendant also faces charges under Sections 373 and 375 of the Criminal Code Act relating to criminal defamation.
At the hearing, counsel to the plaintiff, A.A. Nwanri, appeared alongside the Governor’s Chief Security Officer, CSP O.K. Nkuma, and Inspector Tochukwu Echemagu of the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), urging the court to remand the defendant at the Awka Correctional Centre.
Delivering his ruling, Magistrate C.O. Ezekwere held that the Magistrate Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter. He consequently ordered that the case file be forwarded to the Anambra State Attorney General and Ministry of Justice for further legal action.
The court also directed that any application for bail should be made before the High Court in Awka, effectively denying the defendant’s request for bail at the Magistrate Court.
Although Ofoegbu had earlier issued a public apology and retracted the disputed publications, the prosecution maintained that the criminal proceedings would continue, insisting that the alleged offences of cyberstalking, criminal defamation, and impersonation warrant full prosecution.
The matter was adjourned until July 27, 2026, for a status report and further directives on the prosecution of the case.