In a Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, April 15, police investigators detailed the method used to identify the individual responsible for an online publication accusing former Works and Housing Minister, Babatunde Fashola, of manipulating judgments for the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC).
Ibezim Chike Victor is facing a six-count charge including criminal conspiracy, cyberstalking, and defamation in connection to the publication on Reportera.ng.
Testifying in court, Inspector Ikemba Cyprian disclosed that they traced Victor through his phone number provided by Fashola in petitions to the Inspector General of Police.
Fashola's complaints led to the investigation, revealing that the accused had allegedly fabricated the story to tarnish Fashola's reputation.
The investigation further debunked the claims made in the publication, stating that judgments were authored by appointed Justices and no military presence was reported at Fashola's premises.
Victor, admitting to owning the phone number in question, claimed he had given the phone to an associate, Tope, who remains at large.
The defense objected to the admissibility of Victor's statement, citing legal grounds, but the court ruled in favor of its relevance.
The investigation concluded that the publication aimed to incite disorder and damage Fashola's reputation unjustly.
The court adjourned until April 19 for further proceedings, allowing time for cross-examination of the witness.
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