FG commences prosecution of Ibezim Chike for accusing Fashola of writing PEPC judgments

The federal government has initiated legal proceedings against Ibezim Chike Victor, accused of orchestrating defamatory publications implicating former Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Raji Fashola in the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) judgments.

Victor, alongside Jackson Udeh, Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim, and Reportera.ng, are facing a six-count charge, including criminal conspiracy, cyberstalking, and defamation.

The allegations stemmed from online articles suggesting Fashola’s involvement in crafting controversial verdicts to dismiss petitions by the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The charges were read out during the arraignment before the Federal High Court in Abuja, with Justice Bolaji Olajuwon presiding.

One of the counts stated, “That you, Ibezim Chike Victor… did commit an illegal act when you jointly agreed to publish defamatory statements… against His Excellency Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, CON, without justification.”

In response to the charges, the prosecution emphasised the severity of the accusations, citing laws against cybercrimes and defamation. “These actions have caused undue anxiety and constitute criminal intimidation,” a prosecution representative remarked.

The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/434/2023, has drawn attention due to the nature of the allegations and their potential ramifications on public discourse and political stability.

”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,” the charge reads in part.

“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: Cyberstalking 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 the Nigeria Army takes siege of His Excellency Fashola’s Abuja residence, restricting 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,” the charge continued.

The case has been adjourned until April 15 for further proceedings.

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Oluwasegun Sanusi

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