Court remands Ebonyi prophet over defamation of character, attempted murder

An Ebonyi State Magistrates’ Court sitting in Abakaliki, on Monday, remanded a 24-year-old man, popularly known as Prophet Ubadinma, in a correctional facility over allegations bothering on defamation of character, attempted murder, malicious damage, stealing and arson.

It was gathered that the suspect, who was alleged to have been in the habit of reeling out fake prophecies, committed the offences at Offianka Inyima, Agharaoza, Affiauku and the Ochiohu Inyegu villages in the Izzi and Ikwo LGAs of Ebonyi State in 2020, 2023, 2024 and 2025.

The accused allegedly prophesized that an Ogun State-based businessman, one Emeka Mgbore, popularly known as EmmyBest, was a ritualist and circulated a video of the said ‘fake’ prophecy to various social media platforms.

The development, our correspondent gathered, led to varying degrees of attacks on the Ebonyi-born entrepreneur and looting of his shops by an angry mob in Ogun State.

It was equally alleged that the prophet’s inciting utterances and misdemeanor exposed the character of one Linus Uguru, Njoku Iziogo and others to ridicule and defamation at Offianka Inyima village, in the Izzi LGA of the state.

The prophet was arraigned on Monday by the Ebonyi State Police Command on four different cases comprising of 16 count charges. The charges bothered on attempted murder, arson, stealing, defamation of character, malicious damage, among others.

His lead counsel, Barrister Emeka Anosike, pleaded the court to grant his client bail on the four different matters entered before it, maintaining that they were bailable and did not constitute serious harm to the defendants.

The Police Prosecutor, ASP Lilian Aliede (Mrs) opposed the bail plea, arguing that the offences were both serious and unsettling on the complainants’ image.

For the case of defamation of character, she told the court that the offences were punishable under sections 517 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 33 and 373(a) Criminal Code Cap.33 Vols. 1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.

The magistrate, Mrs Sandra Ifeanyi-Oyibe, granted the suspect bail on the two cases bothering on defamation of character in the tune of N2 million, with two sureties who must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court. According to her, the sureties should show evidence of tax clearance for three years.

Parts of the charge read: “That you Ubadinma Nwebonyi ‘M’ and others now at large on the 10th day of of January, 2023 at Offianka Inyima, in the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit misdemeanor to wit: Defamation of character and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 517 of the Criminal Code Cap. 33, Vol. 1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.

“That you Ubadinma Nwebonyi ‘M’ and others now at large on the 28th day of July, 2025 at Offiauku village, in the aforementioned Magisterial District did defame the character of one Emeka Mgbore ‘M’ by verbally saying that he is a ritualist which you know to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 373(a) of the Criminal Code Cap 33, Vol. 1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.”

The magistrate, Ifeanyi-Oyibe, adjourned the two matters till September 16th and 15th, 2025, for hearing.

However, the suspect was remanded over the cases bothering on attempted murder, arson, malicious damage and stealing, among others.

The charge read: “That you Ubadinma Nwebonyi ‘M’ and others now at large sometime in the year 2020 at Ochiohu Inyegu, in the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: Attempted Murder/Malicious Damage/Defamation of Character/Stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 516A(a) of the Criminal Code Cap 33, Vol. 1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.

“That you Ubadinma Nwebonyi ‘M’ and others now at large on the 7th day of June , 2024, at Agharaoza village, in the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: Arson/Malicious Damage/Defamation of Character/Stealing.”

The magistrate said her court lacked the jurisdiction to adjudicate on the cases.

She directed that the case files should be transferred to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, for report of compliance and adjourned till September 15 and 16.

Court remands Ebonyi prophet over defamation of character, attempted murder