The police have filed a five-count charge against a journalist, Alefia Friday, publisher of Naija News Today (formerly Asiwaju Media), over alleged cybercrime offences linked to a report on a member of the House of Representatives representing Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State, Hon. Chinedu Ogah.
Alefia was said to have been arrested on September 23 in Lagos by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team and moved to Abuja, where he has remained in detention at the facility of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
His arrest followed a report said to have criticised the lawmaker’s performance in office.
Family sources said efforts to secure his release on bail have been unsuccessful, amid concerns about his deteriorating health.
The journalist is expected to be arraigned before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, November 12, on a five-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/53/2025.
In the charge dated October 8 and filed by the police, Alefia Friday James and his company, Asiwaju Media Ltd, are listed as first and second defendants, while the Commissioner of Police is the complainant.
The police allege that Alefia conspired to publish false and defamatory materials against the lawmaker through social media platforms, in violation of Sections 24 and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
Among the alleged publications cited in the charge are reports titled “How Federal Lawmaker Ogah Snatches Village Land in Ebonyi”, “Ebonyi Rep Member Returns ₦4 Million Amidst Extortion Allegations”, and “Ebonyi Rep Member Threatens Constituent for Supporting Charity Foundation.”
The prosecution also accuses the journalist of cyberstalking for publishing a post quoting Ogah as saying, “I rigged senatorial poll against Emmanuel Onwe.”
All five counts are said to contravene Section 24(2)(a) and are punishable under Section 24(2)(c)(i) of the Act.