The Federal Government has filed a six-count charge against nine defendants for allegedly publishing false information on October 16, 2024, claiming that the Department of State Services (DSS) had laid siege to the National Assembly in a bid to impeach Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/555/2024, was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on October 21 by A. A. Yusuf, Deputy Director, Public Prosecution of the Federation.

The defendants include the Incorporated Trustees of Order Paper (on whose platform the false information was allegedly published), Oke Epia (founder/publisher and Executive Director of Order Paper), Tony Okeke Ofodile (Head of Operations), Edna Bill Ulaeto (Admin/Finance Executive), and Elizabeth Atime (National Assembly lead reporter and author of the report). Others charged are Regina Udo (Coordinator of Programmes), Leah Twaki (Social Media Executive), Idongesit Joseph Ekoh (Admin Support), and Edoesomi Sharon Omonegho (National Assembly correspondent).

The Counts in the Charge Include:

1. False Information (Section 24(1)(a) of the Cybercrimes Act 2015):
The defendants are accused of knowingly publishing false information on October 16, 2024, alleging that the DSS had laid siege to the National Assembly to impeach the Senate President, which they knew to be false.

2. Cyber Defamation (Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes Act 2015):
The defendants are charged with intentionally publishing defamatory statements against the DSS and Senate President Akpabio on their online platform, with the intent to harm their reputations.

3. Defamation (Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act):
The defendants are accused of publishing defamatory material that injured the reputations of both the DSS and Senate President Akpabio, bringing them into public ridicule.

4. Publication of False News with Intent to Cause Public Fear (Section 59 of the Criminal Code Act):
The defendants are charged with publishing false information intending to cause public fear and disturbance by alleging that the DSS had laid siege to the National Assembly.

5. Conspiracy (Section 516(a) of the Criminal Code Act):
The defendants are accused of conspiring to disseminate false information regarding the DSS’s involvement in the alleged plot to impeach the Senate President.

No date has been set for the arraignment of the defendants.