Akpabio Impeachment Report: FG Sues Media House, Staff
The Federal Government has filed a lawsuit against nine individuals for spreading false reports that the Department of State Services (DSS) laid siege to the National Assembly in a bid to impeach Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The lawsuit stems from an article published by OrderPaper Nigeria, a media platform, accusing the DSS of plotting an unlawful intervention in the Senate’s leadership.
The individuals are facing a six-count charge, including cyber defamation and spreading false news with intent to cause public fear brought against them by the Federal government.
The suit instituted on October 21, was filed by A. A. Yusuf, the Deputy Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Listed as 1st to 9th defendants in the suit marked; FHC/ABJ/CR/555/2024 include; the Incorporated Trustee of Order Paper, Oke Epia (the platform’s founder and Executive Director), Tony Okeke Ofodile (Head of Operations), Edna Bill Ulaeto (Admin/Finance Executive) and Elizabeth Atime (NASS lead reporter and author of the report)
Others are; Regina Udo (coordinator of programmes), Leah Twaki (Social media executive), Idongesit Joseph Ekoh (Admin support), and Edoesomi Sharon Omonegbo (NASS correspondent).
Some of the charges read, “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 Anime, and others at large on or about the Ifith 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.
“That you, Order Paper (Incorporated Trustee), of Sut 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 the Honourable Court intentionally published defamatory statements regarding the Department of State Services and the Senate President, Senator Godwill 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
“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.
“That you, Order Paper (Incorporated Trustee), of Suit C12, Halima Plaza, Plot 1496, Balanga Street, Area 11, Garkı, 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 reputations of Senator Godswill Akpabio, bringing them into public ridicule, an offence contrary to Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act.
OrderPaper made a retraction and apology on October 18, acknowledging an error in the report posted on October 16.
Akpabio Impeachment Report: FG Sues Media House, Staff is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
