A Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Amawbia, Anambra State, has remanded blogger and publisher of Igbo Times Magazine and INews, Ejike Ofoegbu, over alleged defamatory and fabricated publications concerning Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo and members of his family.

Ofoegbu was arraigned on Monday before Chief Magistrate C.O. Ezekwere on allegations bordering on criminal defamation, cyberstalking and identity theft.

The Anambra State New Media had earlier disclosed the development in a post on X, saying Ofoegbu, also known as “Experience,” appeared before the Magistrate Court in Amawbia as his criminal defamation and cybercrime case continued.

The prosecution counsel, Tochukwu Echemagu of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka, told the court that the defendant allegedly created and published false and defamatory reports against Governor Soludo and his family to attract online traffic and generate financial gain.

The police alleged that the publications falsely claimed that Soludo had disowned his son, Ozonna, and that Ozonna described his father as “a drunkard who beat my mum.” Other alleged reports included claims of a drinking competition involving the governor and a minister.

The prosecution said the alleged offences contravened Sections 24(1)(b) and 38 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as well as Sections 373 and 375 of the Criminal Code Act.

The complainant was represented in court by A.A. Nwanri and the Chief Security Officer to the Governor, O.K. Nkuma.

Chief Magistrate Ezekwere ordered that the case file be transmitted to the Anambra State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice. The court also advised Ofoegbu to approach the High Court in Awka for bail, noting that the magistrate’s court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

The case was adjourned until July 27 for report of compliance.

The arraignment came days after Ofoegbu issued a public apology and full retraction over the publications.

In the apology titled “Public Apology and Full Retraction,” Ofoegbu admitted that the stories he published about Governor Soludo and his son were false, fabricated and not based on verified facts or credible sources.

“I publicly admit that the stories I published concerning Governor Soludo and his son were completely fake, false, fabricated, and untrue. They did not come from Governor Soludo, his son, his family, or any official representative,” he said.

He also admitted that the publications were made in pursuit of online traffic, audience engagement and financial gain.

“I sincerely admit that I published such stories in pursuit of online traffic, audience engagement, and financial gain. I now realise that no amount of money or online attention can justify spreading false information or damaging another person’s reputation,” he stated.

Ofoegbu further retracted other alleged false reports involving Soludo and former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, including claims suggesting that Obi would defeat the governor in an election.

He apologised to Governor Soludo, his family, associates, readers of Igbo Times Magazine and INews, and the people of Anambra State for the embarrassment and reputational damage caused by the publications.

Despite the apology and retraction, the Anambra State Government proceeded with criminal charges against him.

Ofoegbu has not been convicted of the allegations.

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