A 37-year-old woman, Blessing Edet, was arrested Tuesday in an Abuja Federal High Court for allegedly defaming Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom state.
Ms Edet, who was arraigned before Judge Ahmed Mohammed by the Nigerian Police on one count of six counts, however, pleaded not guilty.
The Nigerian News Agency (NAN) reports that while the Inspector General of Police is the complainant in charge number: FHC/ABJ/CR/181/2021, Edet is the only accused.
The charge one of the charges stated that “you Blessing Ossom Edet ‘F’ 37 years of No. 18 Buchanan Crescent Wuse II, Abuja, on or before April 11, 2020, sent messages or other matter with the caption: “Names of married women”. / Wives of politicians sleeping with Governor Emmanuel Loading”, through their Facebook page.
She was also accused of sending a message with the caption: “So we’re getting dirty, it’s time to crack the final table, stay tuned,” via her Facebook page.
Furthermore, it is alleged that Ms. Edet sent a message subtitled: “That the Hon. The Commissioner for Women’s Affairs and Agriculture, Dr. Glory Edet, was the First Royal Lady of Akwa Ibom, who overthrew the governor’s Royal Wife.
This act, according to the charge, is highly offensive and a punishable offense under Section 24(a) of the Cyber-Crime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015.
Edet has pleaded not guilty to all six charges.
Judge Omotosho, who said that the offenses listed in the charges were subject to bail, held that Section 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 allowed the court to grant bail.
“Since the offenses are bailable offences, this court sees no reason to deny bail to the defendant,” he said.
The judge, who admitted Ms Edet to a bond of N500,000 with a security of the same sum, said the security must be a civil servant or someone with a reasonable income.
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He ordered Ms. Edet to deposit her international passport in the judicial registry immediately after the session and that, if she does not comply with the terms, she should remain in pre-trial detention at Suleja Prison pending fulfillment of the conditions of release. bail.
The judge adjourned the matter until May 10 for trial.
(YAYA)
