A Magistrate Court in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has ordered the detention of social media critic, Mr. Polycap Obinna Alegu, who is accused of defaming the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Grace Umezurike.
In the case registered as MAB/7c/2026, the defendant is alleged to have posted false, malicious, and defamatory statements about the SSG on social media on December 16, 2025.
In the first count, the prosecution claims that Alegu circulated defamatory material targeting Umezurike, an act reportedly in violation of Section 375(A) of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under the law.
The second count charges him with deliberately publishing false and defamatory content on Facebook about Umezurike, contrary to Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act.
When asked to respond to the allegations, Alegu told the court that his social media accounts had been hacked and that he was not responsible for the defamatory posts. He further claimed that comments made from his account on other people’s posts were also made by hackers.
Following the plea, defence counsel applied for bail, informing the court that the defendant had credible sureties ready.
However, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) counsel, Linda Akam, opposed the bail application, arguing that the Magistrate’s Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the substantive matter or grant bail.
In her ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Ifeanyi-Onyibe, held that there was a prima facie case against the defendant. “It is better that the issue of bail is left for the court with the requisite jurisdiction,” she ruled.
The court consequently ordered that the case file be forwarded to the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) in the Ebonyi State Ministry of Justice for legal advice.
