By Gbenga-Ojo NICHOLAS
The Anambra State Government has arraigned blogger and publisher of Igbo Times Magazine and INews, Ejike Ofoegbu, over alleged criminal defamation and cybercrime following reports published about Governor Chukwuma Soludo and members of his family.
The development was disclosed on Monday by the Anambra State New Media, which announced that Ofoegbu had appeared before the Magistrate Court in Amawbia as proceedings in the case commenced.
In a post on X, the government media team alleged that the publisher was facing charges over what it described as fake reports targeting the governor’s family.
The arraignment comes only days after Ofoegbu issued a public apology and an unconditional retraction, admitting that several reports he published about Soludo and his son, Ozonna, were fabricated.
In a statement titled “Public Apology and Full Retraction,” the blogger acknowledged that the reports were false and were not based on verified facts or information obtained from the governor, his family or any official representative.
“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 further admitted that the publications were created to attract online traffic and generate financial gain.
Among the stories he retracted were claims that Governor Soludo had disowned his son and allegations that Ozonna had publicly accused his father of alcoholism and domestic abuse.
Ofoegbu also apologised to Governor Soludo, his family, readers and the people of Anambra State, describing the reports as false and stating that they should never have been presented as news.
Despite the public apology and retraction, the Anambra State Government proceeded with criminal charges against the publisher, accusing him of criminal defamation and offences under the Cybercrimes Act.
(The Whistler)