Nigerian Govt Sues Media House, Journalists Over Akpabio’s Report
The Nigerian government has brought a six-count charge against nine individuals accused of publishing false information related to an alleged siege on the National Assembly.
The defendants, including the Incorporated Trustee of Order Paper and its key members, are facing charges for a report published on October 16, 2024, alleging that the Department of State Services (DSS) was involved in a plot to impeach Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The charges, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/555/2024, were filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on October 21 by the Deputy Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, A. A. Yusuf.
The defendants include Oke Epia, founder and Executive Director of Order Paper, and other staff members such as Tony Okeke Ofodile, Edna Bill Ulaeto, and Elizabeth Atime.
According to the charge, the publication was knowingly false, with the intent to harm the reputations of the DSS and the Senate President.
The charge reads, “You, Order Paper (Incorporated Trustee), through your agents, on or about the 16th of October 2024 knowingly published false information via your online platform, alleging that the DSS laid siege to the National Assembly over plans to impeach the Senate President, which you knew to be false.”
The defendants are also accused of cyber defamation under Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes Act, which states, “You, Order Paper (Incorporated Trustee), intentionally published defamatory statements regarding the DSS and the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on your online platform, with the intent to harm their reputations.”
Further charges include defamation under Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act, which claims the publication brought the DSS into public ridicule. The charge states, “You knowingly published defamatory material on your online platform, accusing the DSS of unlawful actions, thereby injuring their reputation.”
The defendants are also charged with publishing false news with intent to cause public fear under Section 59 of the Criminal Code Act. “You, Order Paper (Incorporated Trustee), published false information on your platform, alleging that the DSS laid siege to the National Assembly with the intent to cause public fear and disturbance.
Additionally, the defendants are accused of conspiracy under Section 16(a) of the Criminal Code Act, with the prosecution alleging that they conspired to disseminate false information.
The charge sheet claims, “You conspired among yourselves to commit an illegal act, to wit: the dissemination of false information regarding the DSS allegedly laying siege to the National Assembly.”
A date for the arraignment of the defendants has not yet been set.
