The Federal High Court in Awka, Anambra State, has scheduled Tuesday, February 11, 2025, for the hearing of a preliminary objection raised by defense counsel Fredrick Okpe in a defamation of character case filed by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) against eight members of the Umuona community in Aguata Local Government Area.
At the start of the case, the defense raised an objection regarding the court’s jurisdiction, arguing that the matter was already before the Anambra State High Court in Onitsha. The police prosecution counsel, G.T. Nev Esq., along with Ifeanyi Egbuna Esq., urged the court to disregard the objection. The court has now set February 11 for further proceedings.
The defendants, Kenneth Okoli (67), President-General of Umuona; Ernest Onyejekwe (69); Dr. Anthony Okoli (70); Godfrey Ezeabalim (75); Chukwudi Obiora (40); Obiakor Gilbert (67); Bartholomew Udemba (60); and HRH Igwe Iyke S. C. Ezeofor (61), are facing five counts under the Cybercrime Act 2021 and the Criminal Code for offenses including conspiracy, cyberstalking, and providing false information to a public servant.
The charges stem from a letter sent by the accused to the Anambra State Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Local Government Affairs, in which they falsely accused Igwe Humphrey Ejesieme of attending a community meeting in December 2022 with armed thugs. The prosecution claims this led to the withdrawal of Igwe Ejesieme’s certificate of recognition as the traditional ruler of Umuona, issued in 2014 by former Governor Peter Obi.
The case arose after IGP’s preliminary investigation into a complaint filed by Igwe Ejesieme, who alleged that the defendants defamed him by falsely accusing him of violence at the meeting, leading to his wrongful deposition.
