Anambra Police Arraign Blogger Over Alleged False Reports Targeting Gov. Soludo’s Family

The Anambra State Police Command has arraigned the publisher of Igbo Times Magazine and iNews, Mr. Ejike Ofoegbu, before a Chief Magistrate Court in Awka over allegations of publishing false and defamatory reports against the family of Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

Ofoegbu was brought to Chief Magistrate Court 1, Awka, under police escort on Monday after investigations conducted by the Anambra State Police Command. The police said the suspect was earlier handed over to them by the Department of State Services (DSS) following the conclusion of the agency’s preliminary investigation.

At the end of the proceedings, Chief Magistrate Obiora ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Anambra State Correctional Centre, Amawbia, pending further hearing in the case.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the prosecution followed a petition alleging that the defendant published false reports capable of damaging the reputation of Governor Soludo’s family and inciting public disaffection.

Ikenga said police investigations found that the publisher allegedly released a series of reports within a short period containing what investigators described as fabricated stories about the governor and members of his family.

The police alleged that the reports were presented as direct quotations in an apparent attempt to lend credibility to the publications.

“The investigations revealed that the publications were not the result of journalistic error or inaccurate reporting but were deliberate acts intended to mislead the public and damage the reputation of the governor’s family,” the police spokesman said.

Ikenga further alleged that during interrogation, the defendant admitted fabricating the reports to generate traffic for his online platforms.

The police described the alleged actions as a serious abuse of the media space and said the prosecution was aimed at ensuring accountability through the judicial process.

The command, however, declined further comments on the merits of the case, noting that the matter is now before the court.

It urged journalists, bloggers and other media practitioners to adhere to the ethics of responsible journalism by verifying information before publication.

The police also advised members of the public to rely on credible sources of information and refrain from sharing unverified reports, warning that the deliberate dissemination of false information could attract legal consequences under existing laws.