Federal Gov’t arraigns man who accused Fashola of writing PEPC’s judgments

Federal Gov’t arraigns man who accused Fashola of writing PEPC’s judgments

The federal government has arraigned one Chike Ibezim for allegedly defaming former minister of works and housing, Babatunde Fashola.

Ibezim is one of three individuals who alleged that Fashola had written the judgments of the presidential election petition court (PEPC) that dismissed the petitions by the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ibezim was arraigned on Monday before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a six-count charge.

The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/434/2023, borders on criminal conspiracy, cyberstalking, and defamation, among others.

The matter is before Bolaji Olajuwon and has been adjourned till April 15 for continuation of trial.

Count one of the charges reads: “That you Ibezim Chike Victor, male with Jackson Udeh, Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim and Reportera.ng (body corporate) now at large on or about 05/08/2023 at Abuja, did commit an illegal Act to wit: criminal conspiracy; when you jointly agreed to publish a defamatory statement of false allegations in your online social media, the reportera.ng news, against His Excellency Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, CON, without justification, you thereby commit offence punishable under Section 27(1)(b) of the Cyber-crime Prohibition, Prevention Act 2015.”

However, Fashola said the allegation was “baseless and defamatory”.

The former minister described those behind the allegations as “agents of destabilisation”.