By Our Correspondent
The Federal Government has launched legal proceedings against Ibezim Chike Victor, who stands accused of orchestrating publications alleging former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, as the mastermind behind the judgments of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC).
Victor, alongside alleged accomplices, Jackson Udeh, Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim, and Reportera.ng, faces a six-count charge, including criminal conspiracy, cyberstalking, and defamation.
The trial, presided over by Justice Bolaji Olajuwon at the Federal High Court in Abuja, has been adjourned until April 15 for further proceedings.
The charges outline Victor’s purported involvement in disseminating false statements via social media platforms, aimed at tarnishing Fashola’s reputation and influencing public opinion regarding the PEPC judgments.
The accused allegedly engaged in activities designed to incite unrest and manipulate the course of justice.
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.
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