A MAKURDI Chief Magistrates’ Court on Thursday ordered that a 37-year-old social media activist, Uchena Mojekwu, be remanded in a correctional centre for allegedly defaming the character of Mr Dennis Akura, special adviser to Benue State governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
Mojekwu, who who is said to reside at Plot 10, Alexander Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja, is charged with criminal conspiracy, cyber stalking and defamation of character.
However, the Chief Magistrate, Mr Kelvin Mbanongun, did not take Mojekwu’s plea for want in jurisdiction but however adjourned the matter to June 17, 2024 for further mention.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp Godwin Ato, told the court that on March 8, a petition addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, Makurdi, written by one S. A. Akpehe on behalf of Akura was received at the State CID, Makurdi.
Ato said the petition stated that on Feb 20, 2024, Mojekwu , operating under the auspices of Global Integrity Crusade Network authorised a petition addressed to the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), circulated same on Facebook and WhatsApp where he accused Akura of embezzlement.
Mojekwu in his petition to the EFCC accused the complainant of alleged supervision of the outright embezzlement and diversion of over N20 million being part of aggregate federal accounts allocation committee to the 23 focal government councils between June to Nov, 2023 using individual and private-owned companies.
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The complainant alleged that his attention was drawn to the petition posted on Mojekwu’s timeline on Feb 28 where one Torkuma Terhile allegedly commented: “feeling crazy”, saying that the false allegation by the defendant was injurious to his person.
He said the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 97 and 310 of the Penal Code Law of Benue, 2004 and 24 (a)(b) (2)(a), (b), (c) Cyber Crimes Prohibition Act, 2015. (NAN)
