After receiving a complaint from Mr. Babatunde Fashola, represented by Priory Terrace Solicitors, against Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim, the Force Intelligence Bureau conducted a thorough investigation. The inquiry revealed that the suspect had disseminated false information through his social media account, @ReporteraNews on the platform ‘X’ (formerly known as Twitter) on August 5th, 2023. In this post, the suspect falsely accused the complainant of being involved in drafting a contentious verdict in the ongoing Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. The post also alleged that the military had been deployed to the complainant’s residence, restricting movement. This act was in violation of Section 24 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, 2015. Such false accusations had the potential to harm the complainant’s reputation, cause distress, and pose significant threats to national security and stability.
According to ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer at Force Headquarters in Abuja, further investigations included technical and tactical analysis of the phone number used to make the false publication. This analysis revealed that the phone number was registered to an individual named Chike Ibezim. Armed with this information, police investigators proceeded to Chike Ibezim’s office address in Maitama, Abuja, where he was arrested. However, Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim and an individual known as Tope, who was alleged to handle social media correspondence, are currently evading police invitations and remain at large.
Adejobi emphasized that the Nigeria Police Force is actively monitoring other individuals involved in this case and similar incident for possible arrest and prosecution. He cautioned that cyberstalking and other cyber-related reckless statements are criminal acts that can escalate tensions and create chaos. He called for the discouragement of this emerging trend of cyberstalking and the widespread dissemination of fake news for the collective well-being of the nation.
