A Youngman known as MC Sweet, the creator of online skits, found himself facing legal consequences after making a false online post that claimed Aba Ngwa indigenes obstructed Julius Berger from constructing the Port-Harcourt Road in Aba.
The unfolding saga has now led to MC Sweet being arraigned at a Magistrate Court in Aba, Abia State.
The fabricated post, which gained widespread attention across the state, alleged that Governor Alex Otti summoned elders and youths of Aba Ngwa to Umuahia for a peace meeting, during which he supposedly ordered the incarceration of the indigenes.
Swiftly denied by the Abia State government through Mr. Dodoh Okafor, the Special Assistant on Special Communication to the Governor, the controversial post also faced rejection by the Aba Ngwa Peoples Forum, led by Chimezie Nwagba (President) and Chinedu Ahuruonye (Secretary).
The Forum issued a communique disowning the report and called for the exposure of those responsible for the misleading post.
They unequivocally stated their commitment to supporting projects in the state and expressed their dedication to the Port Harcourt road contract.
However, the person behind the deceptive post was apprehended by the Police and subsequently arraigned at the Aba Magisterial District for attempting to defame the characters of Aba Ngwa Peoples Forum members.
During the court proceedings, the charge sheet, read by the Prosecutor, Mary N. Udorji, accused MC Sweet of making a defamatory post within the Aba Magisterial District.
The charge specified that the offense committed by MC Sweet was punishable under Section 375 of the Criminal Code, Cap 80, Vol. III of Laws of Abia State Nigeria, 2005.
The charge further asserted that MC Sweet aimed to injure the reputation of Aba Ngwa people, subjecting them to ridicule and exposing them to hatred.
In an unexpected twist, MC Sweet, in an attempt to make amends, issued an apology to the Aba Ngwa Peoples Forum for the injurious social media post.
He pleaded for bail, expressing a desire to create another post debunking his initial false claims. Chief Magistrate Erinma Enyeribe granted him bail, and the case was adjourned to February 29, 2024.
However, as of Friday, it remains unconfirmed whether MC Sweet was able to meet the conditions of his bail.
The legal proceedings surrounding this incident have ignited discussions about the responsibility and consequences associated with misinformation in the digital age.
Reacting to the fabricated post, Azubuike Osondu Ochieze, an elder of Ngwa land, condemned the attempt to tarnish the good name of Ngwa people.
Mike Evans, a Chieftain of the Labour Party, noted that Governor Alex Otti has been vindicated and advised the youth against abusing the social media space.
As this legal drama unfolds, it underscores the broader implications of false information in the digital era and the accountability that individuals face when using social media platforms to disseminate unverified claims.
The aftermath of this incident serves as a reminder of the need for responsible engagement in the online space and the potential legal repercussions for those who engage in spreading falsehoods.
