The Federal Government has formally charged nine individuals with disseminating false information regarding an alleged siege of the National Assembly by the Department of State Services (DSS) to orchestrate the impeachment of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The six-count charge was filed on October 21, 2024, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, marking a significant legal move against alleged misinformation.
According to the charges, on October 16, 2024, the Incorporated Trustee of Order Paper, an online media platform, published a report alleging that the DSS surrounded the National Assembly with the intention of removing the Senate President.
This claim, which the government argues is false, has prompted legal action against both the platform and key staff members, including Oke Epia (founder and Executive Director), Tony Okeke Ofordile (Head of Operations), Edna Bill Ulaeto (Admin/Finance Executive), and Elizabeth Atime (National Assembly lead reporter and report author).
Other defendants named in the case are Regina Udo (Coordinator of Programmes), Leah Twaki (Social Media Executive), Idongesit Joseph Ekoh (Admin Support), and Edoesomi Sharon Omonegho (National Assembly correspondent).
The charges allege that the defendants knowingly published false and defamatory information, thereby violating the Cybercrimes Act and Criminal Code.
Specific charges include “false information” under Section 24(1)(a) of the Cybercrimes Act, “cyber defamation” under Section 24(1)(b) of the same Act, and “defamation” under Section 375 of the Criminal Code.
The case underscores the government's stance against misinformation and highlights the legal responsibilities of media platforms and journalists to verify the accuracy of their reports.