Blogger Arrested, Detained and Docked for Arraigned Criminal Libel

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A blogger and social media activist, Mr. Emmanuel Ojo, was arrested on September 26, 2015 at Ibara area of Abeokuta, Ogun State and detained at the Police Command’s headquarters, Eleweran in Abeokuta where the police questioned him.

Emmanuel who was arrested for allegedly publishing false news against the wife of the Ogun State Governor, Mrs Olufunso Amosun was on September 28 arraigned at an Abeokuta Magistrate Court.

He had shared a story on his Facebook page a story that alleged that the Ogun State governor’s wife had been arrested in London for laundering the sum of $300,000. Rather than sue him for libel or defamation of character, Mrs. Amosun used state apparatus to arrest him.

The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed that the Command received a complaint from the state government about the blogger which led to his arrest.

Emmanuel was accused of publishing false information on his Facebook wall “with intent to cause fear and alarm to the public and to expose her to hatred and contempt before the public.”

Emmanuel was accused of publishing “a false news with intent to malign, cause hatred against the wife of the Governor which was punishable under section 516 of Criminal Code Cap 24 vol. 2 Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.”

He was also accused of assaulting a Superintendent of Police, Katibi Biliamin, with intention to resist or prevent lawful arrest and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 356 (1)(2) of Criminal Code Cap 24 vol 2 Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.

He pleaded not guilty to the eight count charge brought against him and was granted bail to the sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum. The presiding Chief Magistrate, Anthony Araba, also ruled that the two sureties must be residents within the jurisdiction of the court possessing landed property.