- Mrs. Chioma Egodi was remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Suleja on charges of criminal defamation
- Justice Peter Lifu deferred ruling on her bail application to Friday, considering arguments presented by her lawyer and the prosecution
A Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded Mrs Chioma Egodi to the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Suleja on criminal defamation charges. Justice Peter Lifu ordered the remand on Tuesday after Egodi pleaded not guilty to the two-count charges under the Cybercrime Act of 2015.
The judge scheduled Friday for a ruling on her bail application, filed by her lawyer, Inibehe Effiong. Effiong presented a medical report, arguing that his client had suffered a miscarriage due to the psychological trauma of the case.
However, the prosecution counsel, Abdulrashid Sidi, requested the court to deny the bail application, citing a history of the defendant potentially jumping bail. Sidi informed the court that Egodi had previously failed to honour the terms of her initial administrative bail and would likely not comply with new conditions.
Unable to deliver a ruling immediately, Justice Lifu postponed it to Friday. The main hearing is set to begin on June 13.
The Inspector-General of Police filed a two-count charge against Chioma, Happiness Obas, and Don Kashking, who are currently at large. The charges allege conspiracy to use a Facebook account, “Chioma Egodi Jnr,” to incite people against Erisco Foods Limited.
The prosecution claims that the defendants knowingly spread false information to cause annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will, or needless anxiety to Erisco Foods Limited, its management, and its family members.
These offences are contrary to Section 27(1)(b) and 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrime Prohibition Act.