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What began as a series of sensational social media posts designed to grab attention has ended in a courtroom, public embarrassment, and a stay in a correctional facility for Anambra-based publisher, Ejike Ofoegbu.
On Sunday, July 13, the Anambra State Police Command arraigned Ofoegbu, the alleged owner and publisher of Igbo Times Magazine and iNews, before a competent court over allegations of publishing false, fabricated, and defamatory stories targeting the family of Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo.
According to the police, the case originated from a petition alleging that Ofoegbu deliberately created and circulated fabricated statements falsely attributed to Governor Soludo and his son, Ozonna (popularly known as Ozo). The reports quickly spread across social media, attracting public attention and provoking widespread reactions.
Investigators said the publications were not based on facts but were entirely manufactured to portray a fractured relationship between the governor and his son.
Among the false claims attributed to Governor Soludo was a fabricated statement alleging that he had disowned Ozonna and would arrest anyone who referred to him as his son. Other invented stories falsely claimed that Ozonna described his father as a drunkard who abused his mother, while another post humorously—but falsely—suggested that the governor had “ordered Ozo from Temu” because he was “Chinese-made.” Yet another fabricated quote alleged that Ozonna challenged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to a drinking contest with his father.
Police authorities described the publications as false, malicious, and capable of causing serious reputational damage while inciting public disaffection.
Following the submission of a petition, the matter was first handled by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Awka. After preliminary investigations, the suspect was transferred to the Anambra State Police Command, which carried out further investigations before filing charges in court.
Faced with the weight of the allegations and the outcome of the investigation, Ofoegbu reportedly admitted responsibility for the publications. He publicly withdrew the stories, acknowledged that they were false, and issued an apology to Governor Soludo and his family for the embarrassment and reputational harm caused by the fabricated reports.
Despite the apology, law enforcement authorities proceeded with prosecution, maintaining that false publications capable of misleading the public and damaging reputations must be addressed through the legal process.
Confirming the development, the spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the suspect was arraigned on Sunday after investigations were concluded. He added that the court ordered Ofoegbu to be remanded in a correctional centre pending the next stage of the legal proceedings.
The case serves as another reminder of the growing consequences of misinformation in the digital age, where fabricated stories can spread rapidly, damage reputations, and ultimately lead to criminal prosecution. While social media has empowered citizens to share information instantly, authorities insist that freedom of expression must be exercised responsibly and within the bounds of the law.
