A Magistrate Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, has remanded a 52 years old man, Chinagwo Paul Nweke, for allegedly cyberbullying a lawmaker, Mr Chinedu Ogah.
Ogah is a member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, where he is representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State.
Nweke’s remand followed his arraignment on a three count charge by the police on Tuesday.
According to court records in the suit numbered MAB/616c/2025, the suspect is accused of committing an offence punishable under section 516 A (a) of the Criminal Code, Cap 33 , Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.
The document reads: “That you Chinagwo Paul Nweke ‘m’, and others now at large sometime in (October at Abakaliki within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to Wit: 516 A (a) of the Criminal Code, Cap 3Vol:, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.
“That you Chinagwo Paul Nweke ‘m’, and others now at large did transmit a live broadcast via Facebook account of Amarachi Nweke ‘f’, to place the said Comrade Chinedu Ogah in fear of Death, Violence and Bodily harm and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24(2)(a) of Cyber Crimes (prohibition Prevention Act2015, as amended.
“That you Chinagwo Paul Nweke ‘m’ on the same date, place and in the aforementioned magisterial District did intentionally transmit a live broadcast via Facebook account of Amarachi Nweke ‘f’, which contained threat to harm the reputation of Comrade Chinedu Ogah whom you accused of a crime in the said broadcast and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24 (2) (c) of Cyber Crimes (prohibition Prevention) ACt 2015, as amended.”
When the matter came up for hearing, counsel to the defendant, Cyprian Udu, applied for bail for his client.
But police prosecutor, Eberechukwu Obi opposed the bail application.
In his ruling, Magistrate Sandra Onyibe declined jurisdiction on the matter.
She ordered that the case file be transferred to the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, for further advise on the matter.
The matter was adjourned to 9th December, 2025, for further hearing
Speaking to reporters, counsel to the complainant, Uchenna Collins Egba, said his client is ready to pursue the matter to a logical conclusion.
“It is just a cause of justice. If an allegation is made against any defendant, just as it is made against Chinabuo Paul Nweke, the police have to do their own part of the job. Finally, they should arraign the defendant, just as they just did.
“The defendant is Chinagwo Paul Nweke, whereas the nominal complainant is Comrade Chinedu Ogah in this matter. Well, the position of the law is simple, that the court lacks jurisdiction.
“This is the Chief Magistrate Court of that matter. But the truth is that when it comes to cyber crime laws and this prohibition aspect, the Magistrate Court is not given the jurisdiction to entertain such matters.
“It is only the High Court or the Federal High Court, specifically. So the Magistrate Court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain this matter and that’s why they remanded the defendant.
” And he was equally informed of his right to appeal at the High Court for his bail because generally, bail is at the discretion of the court.
“But the truth is that there are offenses that are not triable by certain courts, and there are offenses that are triable by certain courts. In the instant case, the offense to which the defendant is charged cannot be tried by the Magistrate Court. That is what gave rise to the ruling that he be remanded.
“But yet, he should know that he still has that right to appeal for bail at the High Court. It is adjourned for what we call a report of compliance because the orders of the court is that all the inventory of the case file of this matter be transmitted, be transferred to the Honorable Attorney General’s Office for it to vet the file and know the next step to take.
“This matter is adjourned as it is in line with the laws for compliance in two weeks. Every two weeks, this matter will be coming up so that the Magistrate in charge of this matter will know if the Honorable Attorney General has done the needful by vetting the court case files.”
