Jonathan Nwokpor
A man going by the name MC Sweet was charged before an Aba, Abia State, magistrate court for fabricating an online post in which he claimed that Aba Ngwa indigenous people attempted to prevent Julius Berger from building the Port-Harcourt Road in Aba.
Additionally, the online skit creator said in the fictitious article that Governor Alex Otti ordered the detention of the indigenous people after inviting a few elders and young people from Aba Ngwa to Umuahia for a peace conference.
The Abia State government promptly refuted the erroneous and contentious post that caused a stir around the state last week through Mr. Dodoh Okafor, the Special Assistant on Special Communication to the Governor.
The Aba Ngwa Peoples Forum, led by Secretary Chinedu Ahuruonye and President Chimezie Nwagba, also released a statement denouncing the news and demanding the identification of the perpetrators of the phony post.
They added that they will never undermine any project in the State, including the Port Harcourt road deal.
However, the author of the message was later apprehended by the police and charged at the Aba Magisterial District for attempting to disparage the reputations of members of the Aba Ngwa Peoples Forum.
MC made the defamatory post within the Aba Magisterial District, according to the charge sheet read by the prosecutor, Mary N. Udorji. It further stated that the offense he committed was punished under Section 375 of the Criminal Code, Cap 80, Vol. 111 of the Laws of Abia State, Nigeria, 2005.
According to the indictment, MC Sweet attempted to defame and disparage the Aba Ngwa people in order to incite hatred against them.
The accused pleaded for release so that he could make another post refuting the previous one he made, after apologizing to the Aba Ngwa Peoples Forum for the harmful social media post.
Chief Magistrate Erinma Enyeribe granted him bail, and the case was postponed until February 29, 2024.
However, it remained unclear if MC Sweet was able to comply with his bail requirements on Friday.
In response, Azubuike Osondu Ochieze, an elder of Ngwa land, claimed that the post attempted to promote the positive image of the Ngwa people.
Additionally, Mike Evans, a Chieftain of the Labour Party, stated that Governor Alex Otti has received additional vindication and counseled young people not to misuse social media.
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