Mr. Koko Robson, a reporter with a local newspaper, The Waves, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and two others, Mr. Victor Akpan and Mr. Okon Ben, who were arrested by the Police in May 2024 for alleged cybercrime and remanded in prison have remained incarcerated three months after their arrest.
The three men were accused of publishing materials on Facebook, accusing the village head of Ikot Ebidang in Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Ukpe Alfred, of embezzling N45 million given to the village by an oil company, Sterling Global Ltd.
Mr. Japheth Japheth, the prosecution counsel from the Akwa Ibom State Police headquarters told the court that the publication was false and intended to cause “annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction to the peace the community” and to intimidate and caused “hatred and ill-will” against the village head.
Mr. Japhet has moved the case through three courtrooms – from a Magistrate Court in Uyo to a Federal High Court in Calabar, Cross River State, and then to a State High Court in Awa, Akwa Ibom State.
Although they were initially charged with cyberstalking, the charge was later amended to defamation of character, which the prosecution said is punishable under Section 332 of the Criminal Code CAP Vol 2 Laws of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, 2022.
They were initially remanded in Uyo prison before being moved to Eket prison where they are currently being held.
