Federal Government Commences Trial of Man Accused of Alleging Fashola’s Authorship of PEPC Judgments

The Federal Government has initiated legal proceedings against Ibezim Chike Victor, who stands accused of orchestrating defamatory publications targeting the former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola.

Victor, alongside Jackson Udeh, Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim, and the corporate entity Reportera.ng, allegedly conspired to spread false information through online platforms, including social media.

The case, brought before Justice Bolaji Olajuwon at the Federal High Court in Abuja, involves a six-count charge (FHC/ABJ/CR/434/2023) encompassing offenses such as criminal conspiracy, cyberstalking, and defamation.

According to the charge sheet, Victor and his alleged associates purportedly engaged in the dissemination of defamatory statements through Reportera.ng, falsely implicating Fashola in manipulating judgments at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) to dismiss petitions filed by the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The publications, made on or about 05/08/2023, purportedly accused Fashola of involvement in drafting controversial verdicts and depicted a scenario where the Nigerian Army besieged his residence.

The prosecution contends that these actions amount to cyber crimes, including criminal conspiracy, cyberstalking, defamation, and influencing the course of justice, as outlined under relevant sections of the Cyber-crime Prohibition, Prevention Act 2015 and the Penal Code law.

The case has been adjourned until April 15, 2024, for the continuation of the trial.