ANAMBRA COURT ADJOURNS CYBERDEFAMATION CASE AGAINST BUSINESSMAN TO APRIL 22

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The Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State, has adjourned the cyberdefamation case against Awka-based businessman, Ikenna Ezeume, to April 22, 2026, for formal arraignment and plea.

Presiding judge, B. M. K. Mohammed, fixed the new date following earlier delays that prevented the 40-year-old defendant from taking his plea on a two-count charge filed by the Nigeria Police Force under the authority of the Inspector-General of Police.

Ezeume is accused of defaming Jideofor Okongwu, a former chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Aniocha Branch, through online publications.

According to the charge sheet marked FHC/AWK/107C/2025, the defendant allegedly circulated defamatory voice notes on two WhatsApp groups—Peoples’ Forum and Enugwu Village Forum—between February and March 2025. In the messages, he reportedly claimed that Okongwu fraudulently gained admission into the Nigerian Law School and was unqualified to practise law.

The second count relates to similar allegations allegedly posted on Ezeume’s Facebook page, where he was said to have accused Okongwu of securing admission into Delta State University through fraudulent means and questioned the legitimacy of his legal qualifications.

The prosecution argued that the alleged actions contravene Section 24(2)(a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024, which criminalises the intentional transmission of false information capable of harming another person’s reputation.

The case has experienced several adjournments since it was first scheduled for mention last year. It was initially postponed after Ezeume’s counsel cited the defendant’s hospitalisation, while subsequent hearing dates in September 2025 and February 2026 were also missed due to the defendant’s ill health and court engagements.

When the charges were eventually read on Thursday, Ezeume pleaded not guilty to both counts.