The Nigerian Federal Government has filed charges against several journalists and an online media platform for allegedly publishing false information regarding the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
The journalists are accused of falsely reporting that the DSS had surrounded the National Assembly on October 16, 2024, due to an attempt to impeach the Senate President.
The case, filed on October 21, 2024, before the Federal High Court in Abuja, includes six charges brought against nine individuals linked to the online news platform, Order Paper. The charges were submitted by A. A. Yusuf, the Deputy Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation.
The defendants include several staff members of Order Paper, including its founder and executive director, Oke Epia, and other key personnel such as Edna Bill Ulaeto (Admin/Finance Executive), Elizabeth Atime (lead reporter), and Tony Okeke Ofodile (Head of Operations).
The charges stem from a report published on the platform, which claimed that the DSS had laid siege to the National Assembly due to alleged moves to impeach the Senate President. The government, however, maintains that the information is false, accusing the defendants of defamation and intentionally spreading misinformation.
The charges include accusations of violating the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act 2015, specifically Section 24(1)(a), which addresses the publication of false information. The defendants are also facing charges under Section 24(1)(b) of the same act, which deals with cyber defamation.
Counts in the charge read as follows:
– False information under Section 24(1)(a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act 2015 (as amended 2024)
“That you, Order Paper (Incorporated Trustee), of Suit C12, Halima Plaza, Plot 1496, Balanga Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, through your agents, Oke Epia, Tony Okeke Ofordile, Edna Bill Ulacto, and Elizabeth Atime, and others at large on or about the 16th of October 2024 knowingly published false information via your online platform, alleging that the Department of State Services (DSS) laid siege to the National Assembly over plans to impeach the Senate President, which you knew to be false, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 24(1)(a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act 2015 and punishable under the same section.
– Cyber Defamation under Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act 2015)
“That you, Order Paper (Incorporated Trustee), of Suit C12, Halima Plaza, Plot 1496, Balanga Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, through your agents, Oke Epia, Edna Bill Ulacto, and Elizabeth Atime, on or about the 16th of October 2024, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court intentionally published defamatory statements regarding the Department of State Services and the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on your online platform, which ‘was accessible to the public, with the intent to harm their reputations, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 24(1)b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act 2015 and punishable under the same section.
– Defamation under Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act
That you, Order Paper (Incorporated Trustee), of Suit C12, Halima Plaza, Plot 1496, Balanga Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, through your agents, Oke Epia, Edna Bill Ulacto, and Elizabeth Atime, on or about the 16th of October 2024 knowingly published defamatory material on your online platform, accusing the Department of State Services of unlawful actions, thereby injuring the reputation of the Department of State Services, bringing them into public ridicule, an offence contrary to Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act.
– Defamation under Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act
“That you, Order Paper (Incorporated Trustee), of Suit C12, Halima Plaza, Plot 1496, Balanga Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, through your agents, Oke Epia, Edna Bill Ulaeto, and Elizabeth Atime, on or about the 16th of October 2024 knowingly published defamatory material on your online platform, accusing the Department of State Services of unlawful actions, thereby injuring the reputation of Senator Godswill Akpabio, bringing them into public ridicule, an offence contrary to Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act.
– Publication of False News with Intent to Cause Public Fear and Disturbance under Section $9 of the Criminal Code Act
“That you, Order Paper (Incorporated Trustee) of Suit C12, Halima Plaza, Plot 1496, Balanga Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, through your agents, Oke Epia, Edna Bill Ulaeto, and Elizabeth Atime, on or about the 16th of October 2024 with the intent to cause public fear and disturbance, published false information on your platform alleging that the DSS laid siege to the National Assembly, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 59 of the Criminal Code Act and punishable under the same Act.
“That you, Order Paper (Incorporated Trustee), of Suit C12, Halima Plaza, Plot 1496, Balanga Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, through your agents Edna Bill Ulacto, Elizabeth Atime, and Oke Epia, on or about the 16th of October 2024 conspired among yourselves to commit an illegal act, to wit: the dissemination of false information regarding the Department of State Services (DSS) allegedly laying siege to the National Assembly over plans to impeach the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, an offence contrary to Section $16(a) of the Criminal Code Act and punishable under the same section.”
No date has been set for the arraignment of the defendants.
