A Magistrate’s Court in Abakaliki has remanded Chika Nwoba, a former spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi, in custody for alleged defamation.
Nwoba, a social media handler, appeared in court on Tuesday and was charged with conspiracy, false publishing, and defamation.
The prosecution, ASP Chinagorom Eze, told the court that the defendant was detained on Sunday, February 11, 2024, in response to a petition filed by the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Oguzor Offia-Nwali.
According to the prosecutor, Nwoba Chika and others now at large conspired to commit a felony on February 6 at Abakaliki, namely “threat to life, publishing false information, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516(a) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 33 Vol. 1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.”
.
Mr. C.N. Ufufu, Nwoba’s counsel, filed a bail application, claiming that the charges were bailable.
The prosecutor, however, rejected the bail application.
The magistrate, Mrs Lilian Ogodo, stated that the court lacked power to hear the case and referred it to the high court.
Ogodo delayed the case until March 1, 2024.