By Izunna Okafor, Awka
An online publisher, Mr. Ejike Ofoegbu, has been arraigned before the Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Amawbia, Anambra State, over alleged cyberstalking, defamation and other cyber-related offences arising from a series of controversial publications targeting Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo and members of his family, including where he said the Governor admitted ordering his son from the Temu App.
Ofoegbu, who is the owner and publisher of Igbo Times Magazine and INews, was arraigned on Monday before Chief Magistrate C.O. Ezekwere of Court 1, Chief Magistrate’s Court, Amawbia.
The prosecution, led by the Officer-in-Charge of Legal, A.A. Nwanna, prayed the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending the transfer of the matter to the appropriate court with the requisite jurisdiction.
The prosecutor informed the court that the offences bordered on alleged cyberstalking, defamation and other cyber-related crimes punishable under the provisions of the Cybercrimes Act, particularly Section 24(1)(b).
At the proceedings, two witnesses testified for the prosecution, during which one of the witnesses, Mr. O.K. Nkuma, Chief Security Officer to Governor Soludo, told the court that the Governor drew his attention to several publications on Igbo Times Magazine and INews, which he described as containing “despicable and unverifiable” claims capable of damaging the reputation of the Governor and members of his family.
According to him, some of the publications falsely attributed sensational statements to the Governor’s son, Ozonna Soludo, while others contained fabricated claims concerning the Governor himself.
Nkuma said screenshots of the publications were forwarded to the Police for investigation, which eventually led to the tracking of his phone number and his subsequent arrest in Imo State.
Also testifying, Inspector Toochukwu Echenazu of the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Awka, told the court that the Police received a formal complaint on July 9 over alleged cyberstalking.
He said investigators subsequently tracked the suspect through his telephone records, leading to his arrest.
According to the officer, Ofoegbu, during interrogation, made confessional statements admitting responsibility for those publications made on July 6 and July 7, 2026, and also apologised for the posts.
Counsel to the defendant, I.C. Machie, however opposed the prosecution’s application, citing sections 130, 131 and relevant provisions provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) 2022 and urging the court to consider looking into the matter.
In his brief remark before the court, the defendant told the court how the issues surrounding the matter began about 10 days earlier and how he picked some of his information from certain platforms to fabricate his stories.
In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Ezekwere held that the Magistrate Court lacked the jurisdiction to try the matter, being one relating to offences triable by a higher court.
The court consequently ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Amawbia Correctional Centre pending the advice of the Attorney General and the assignment of the case to a court of competent jurisdiction.
The Chief Magistrate also declined the defendant’s bail application, directed the prosecution to compile and transmit the record of proceedings, while also ordering the prosecution witnesses to enter into recognisance, and also make themselves available whenever required.
The matter was thereafter adjourned to July 27, 2026.
The arraignment, which attracted the presence of some high-profile individuals, including the State’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike; song the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Christian Aburime, was also confirmed in a statement issued to newsmen on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga.
The case stems from a series of social media publications by the Mr. Ofoegbu, which were adjudged to be defamatory, capable of injuring the reputation of Governor Soludo and members of his family, as well as inciting public disaffection.
Among others, some of the headlines and quoted words from his publications against Governor Soludo read:
“Breaking News: ‘I ordered Ozo from Temu. He is Chinese-made, not my son. Even at the hospital when he was born, I asked the doctor, ‘I hope you didn’t accidentally exchange my real son.’ Ozo is from Temu,’ Soludo jokingly told reporters.”
“Breaking News: ‘I will arrest anyone who calls Ozo my son. He is not my son. I disowned him years ago, and he is no longer a member of the Soludo family.’”
“Just In: I Don’t Take Advice From My Father. He Was a Drunkard Who Beat My Mom When I Was Young. His Treatment of My Mother Made Me Decide Never to Take Advice From Him — ‘Soludo’s Son’ Speaks Out.”
“Breaking News: ‘They should organize a drinking competition between my father and Wike. I just want to see something. I’m willing to bet my life that my father would win. People don’t understand his drinking capacity.’ — Ozo.”
However, shortly after his arrest, and prior to his arraignment, Ofoegbu had issued a visual and written public apology to Governor Soludo, his family and the general public, admitting that the controversial stories he published about the Governor and his son were completely fake, false, fabricated and untrue.
According to him in the viral apology, the publications were neither based on verified facts nor sourced from the Governor, his family or any authorised representative.
“I also wish to acknowledge that the false posts listed above were not the only fabricated stories I published about Governor Soludo.
“Among other posts on Igbo Times Magazine and INews, I also published false and misleading stories involving Governor Soludo and Mr. Peter Obi, including claims that Governor Soludo would defeat Mr. Peter Obi in an election.
“Those stories were also completely false, were not based on any verified facts, and should never have been published,” he stated in the apology.
The online publisher, in the apology, also admitted publishing the stories in pursuit of online traffic, audience engagement and financial gain, even as he expressed regret over the embarrassment and reputational damage the reports might have caused.
He also unconditionally retracted the publications and appealed to Governor Soludo, his family, readers and the general public for forgiveness, maintaining that no amount of financial gain or online popularity justified damaging another person’s reputation through falsehood.
