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The Prosecutor, Mr Olakanmi Omisope, told the court that the accused committed the
alleged offences sometime in June, in Lagos. He said that the accused, knowingly and intentionally, published a defamatory story on the internet against one Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo, the Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Plc.
Omisope alleged that the accused published the said defamatory story in www.naijahottestgist.com, in order to annoy, and insult Okonkwo.
The prosecutor also alleged that the accused knew that the information he published was false.
He said that the offences contravened Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention) Act, 2015, and Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation.
Section 375 of the Criminal Code says: “Any person who publishes any defamatory matter is guilty of a misdemeanour, and is liable to imprisonment for one year; and any person who publishes any defamatory matter knowing it to be false is liable to imprisonment for two years.”
The story claimed that Okonkwo impregnated the bank’s “top marketer” known as Justina, which resulted in her husband, Ben, leaving their matrimonial home. The story also claimed that Okonkwo took responsibility for the children’s welfare and schooling.
Oloketuyi had apologised and retracted the story via www.bestofnollywood.tv, saying:
“Naijahottestgist hereby apologises to the Managing Director, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo and the management of Fidelity Bank Plc over a story published on www.Naijahottestgist.com on 18th of June, 2015 and titled “FIDELITY BANK MD, NNAMDI OKONKWO BREAKS JUSTINA’S HOME, IMPREGNATES HER,” where we had erroneously alleged that Mr. Okonkwo was having an extra marital affair with Mrs. Justina, the Head of Marketing team of the bank.
“Regrettably, Naijahottestgist has discovered that the story wasn’t true as there was never a time Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo indulged in an extra marital affair with the said staff member, Justina.
“We hereby tender our unreserved apology to Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo and the entire management of FEDELITY BANK PLC.
“Similarly, we hereby retract the story and appeal to all bloggers and news site that might have copied the story from Naijahottestgist to remove the story with immediate effect.”
Justice Mohammed Yunusa adjourned to September 1 for hearing of Oloketuyi’s bail application.