Nine persons have been charged to court with disseminating false information on the impeachment of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The Federal Government, through the deputy director of public prosecution A. A. Yusuf, filed a six-count charge against the defendants at a Federal High Court in Abuja on October 21.
The defendants falsely published on October 16 that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) laid siege to the National Assembly to effect Akpabio’s impeachment.
Those sued are the Incorporated Trustee of Order Paper (on whose online platform the false information was allegedly published), Oke Epia (founder/publisher and executive director of Order Paper) and Tony Ofodile (head of operations) as first to third defendants.
Also joined as fourth and fifth defendants are Edna Ulaeto (admin/finance executive) and Elizabeth Atime (National Assembly lead reporter, author of report).
Others are Regina Udo (coordinator of programmes), Leah Twaki (social media executive), Idongesit Ekoh (admin support) and Edoesomi Omonegho (National Assembly correspondent) as sixth to ninth defendants respectively.
In count one, the prosecution accused Order Paper (Incorporated Trustee), of Suit C12, Halima Plaza, Plot 1496, Balanga Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, through its agents; Epia, Ofordile, Ulaeto, Atime and others at large of publishing false information via its online platform.
The defendants and others at large, in count two, were alleged to have intentionally published defamatory statements regarding the DSS and Akpabio, on their online platform.
The case was yet to be assigned to a judge as of press time.
