Journalists Faces Legal Battle Over Alleged False Report on Nigerian Senate President

The Nigerian government has initiated prosecution against nine individuals, including journalists and staff from the Order Paper online platform.

The charges stem from an article published on Wednesday October 16, which claimed that the Department of State Services (DSS) had surrounded the National Assembly due to alleged plans to impeach Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The lawsuit, filed on Monday October 21, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, accuses the defendants of multiple offenses under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act 2015 and the Criminal Code Act.

These include allegations of publishing false information, cyber defamation, and general defamation. According to the charges, the report was intended to harm the reputations of both the DSS and Senator Akpabio, while also inciting public fear and unrest.

A spokesperson for the prosecution stated, "The publication in question knowingly disseminated false information, thereby committing an offense contrary to Section 24(1)(a) of the Cybercrimes Act."

The charges further allege that the defendants conspired to spread this misinformation, which could potentially destabilize public order.