Defamation Case: Anambra Govt Arraigns Blogger Over Fake Reports on Soludo, Son

The Anambra State Government has arraigned a blogger, Ejike Ofoegbu, over allegations of criminal defamation and cybercrime following the publication of reports said to contain false claims about Governor Chukwuma Soludo and members of his family.

Ofoegbu, who is the publisher of Igbo Times Magazine and INews, appeared before a Magistrate Court sitting in Amawbia on Monday as legal proceedings in the matter commenced.

The case was made public through a statement shared by the Anambra State New Media team, which confirmed that the blogger was in court to answer charges linked to publications concerning Governor Soludo and his family.

The arraignment comes shortly after Ofoegbu issued a public apology and retracted several reports that had circulated widely on social media and other online platforms.

In the apology, the publisher admitted that a number of stories he published about the governor and his son, Ozonna Soludo, were not true. He acknowledged that the reports were fabricated and lacked factual basis.

According to him, the stories were not obtained from Governor Soludo, his son, members of their family, or any authorised representative. He further admitted that the reports were not supported by verified information or credible sources.

“I publicly admit that the stories I published concerning Governor Soludo and his son were completely fake, false, fabricated, and untrue. They did not come from Governor Soludo, his son, his family, or any official representative.

“They were not based on any verified facts or credible source, and they should never have been presented as news,” he stated.

Among the reports withdrawn by the blogger were claims alleging that the governor had disowned his son, as well as stories suggesting that Ozonna Soludo made damaging remarks against his father and family.

Ofoegbu also admitted that the publications were driven by the desire to attract online attention and increase audience engagement. He expressed regret over the incident and apologised to Governor Soludo, his family, readers, and residents of Anambra State.

The state government has not indicated whether additional charges will be filed, but the case is expected to continue before the court in the coming days.