By Amara Agha, Abakaliki
The Police on Monday arraigned a 43-year-old practicing lawyer, Johnson Igwe Nwalo, before a Magistrates’ Court in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, over alleged cyber bullying, conspiracy, and threat to life against a federal lawmaker.
Nwalo, an Ebonyi-based legal practitioner, was brought before the court in suit MAB/642c/2025 on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, cyber bullying, and threatening the life of Hon. Chinedu Ogah, the member representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. The alleged offences were said to have been committed in October 2025.
During the proceedings, Counsel to the defendant, Kelvin Nwafor, opposed the reading of the charges, arguing that the Magistrates’ Court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain matters relating to cybercrime. He insisted that proceeding with the arraignment would amount to hearing a matter over which the court was not competent, urging the court to strike out the case and direct that it be properly filed before a Federal High Court.
However, the Prosecutor, Ezeh Chinagorom, opposed the application, maintaining that the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) did not apply in the manner argued by the defence. He further submitted that a remand proceeding differs from a regular arraignment under Section 223 of the ACJL of Ebonyi State.
After listening to both sides, the trial Magistrate, Sandra Oyibe, ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction to try the substantive charges. She therefore ordered the remand of the defendant at the Abakaliki Correctional Centre pending further legal advice.
The magistrate also directed that the original case file and all accompanying evidence be transmitted to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for advice on the appropriate court and further prosecution.
The matter was adjourned to December 22, 2025, for further hearing at the High Court.
Part of the charge sheet reads:
“That you, Igwe Nwalo Johnson, and others now at large, sometime in October 2025 at Abakaliki, in the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: cyber bullying, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516A(a) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.”
“That you, Igwe Nwalo Johnson ‘M’, on the same date and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did intentionally transmit a live broadcast via Facebook account of one Amarachi Nweke ‘F’, containing threats capable of harming the reputation of Comrade Chinedu Ogah, whom you accused of a crime, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, 2015, as amended.”
“That you, the defendant, and others now at large, on the same date and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did intentionally transmit a live broadcast via the Facebook account of Amarachi Nweke to bully one Chinedu Ogah, placing him in fear of death, violence, and bodily harm, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24(2)(a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, 2015, as amended.”
