Nwoba Chika Nwoba arraigned, remanded in prison for alleged defamation  

A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State, Chika Nwoba, has been remanded in prison custody following his arrest on Sunday in Anambra State. 

He was arraigned by the police on Tuesday on a three-count charge of defamation, following a petition by the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry in Ebonyi State, Oguzor Offia-Nwali. 

Background

Asiwaju Media had reported that Mr Nwoba alleged that Mr Nwali diverted N3 billion meant to empower vulnerable Emboyi citizens. 

He warned Mr Nwali to return the money stolen in a lengthy post on his Meta handle. 

However, Mr Nwali debunked the alleged misappropriation of funds via his Meta handle. 

He requested Mr Nwoba to retract his statement against his person with the intent to tarnish his image. 

But the PDP chieftain refused to adhere to the directive, which made Mr Nwali accuse him of defaming him, threatening his life, and falsely accusing him of fraud and diversion of state government funds meant for the empowerment of hawkers through a series of posts he made on social media. 

Mr Nwoba was arraigned on three-count charges including a threat to life, publication of false information, and false allegations. 

The charges read: “That you Nwoba Chika Nwoba ‘m’ and others now at large on the 6th day of February 2024 at Abakaliki within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: Threat to Life, Publishing False Information and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 516 A (a) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 33 Vol. 1 Laws of the Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009. “That you Nwoba Chika Nwoba ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, place and in the aforementioned Magisterial District did threaten the life of Hon. Oguzorkanu Offia Nwali ‘m’ by the use of electronic gadgets and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 12(1) (b) of Ebonyi State Internal Security Enforcement and Related matters, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009. “That you Nwoba Chika Nwoba ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, place and in the aforementioned Magisterial District did publish false information on your Facebook page accusing Hon. Oguzorkanu Offia Nwali ‘m’ a serving Commissioner in Ebonyi State Executive Council of Funds Diversion, a publication you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence under section 14 of Ebonyi State Internal Security Enforcement and Related matters, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.” After the charges were read to him, Mr Nwoba’s Lawyer, C N Ufufu made an oral bail application for his client. 

The defence counsel, C N Ufufu, made an oral bail application for his client, arguing that the prosecution did not get the approval of the Attorney General to prosecute the matter in line with the stipulations in the Ebonyi State Internal Security Enforcement law under which he was being charged. 

However, the council to the police, Eze Chinagorom, opposed the bail application and added that the Supreme Court had already ruled that the police officer does not need formal permission to prosecute a matter since the police officer is representing the Attorney General. 

The Magistrate, Lilian Ogodo, ruled that the proper place to make the arguments is at the High Court since the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the matter. 

She remanded the accused at the Abakaliki Correctional Service and urged that the case file be transmitted to the Ministry of Justice for further action. While advising the accused to file the bail application at the High Court, the Magistrate adjourned the matter to 1st March 2024.