The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of a controversial Bayelsa Blogger, Mr Mienpamo Onitsha Saint, from Naijalivetv.com, and a self-proclaimed ex-agitator, at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
This decision comes in response to allegations of criminal defamation against the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Major General Barry Ndiomu (Retd).
The defendant is currently facing a three-count charge, which includes alleged willful libel, making threats, causing danger, and insulting the PAP Interim Administrator.
During the commencement of the hearing on Thursday, the accused person pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.
The charges against Mr Mienpamo Onitsha Saint state, “That you, Mienpamo Onitsha Saint of Imiringi Road, Yenagoa, in September 2023, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, knowingly and intentionally sent a message/post via your Facebook page ‘Mienpamo Onitsha Saint,’ using a computer system network, falsely claiming that a vote of no confidence on Ndiomu as Amnesty Delegate had led to his death at the hands of Ndiomu Boys in Abuja.
This was done with the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, ill will, and needless anxiety to Major General Barry Ndiomu (Retd). This act constitutes an offence punishable under Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015.
Further, it is charged, “You, Mienpamo Onitsha Saint of Imiringi Road, Yenagoa, also in September 2023 within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, knowingly and intentionally transmitted a communication through a computer system network, via a public Facebook page known as Bayelsa Focus Group, falsely claiming a vote of no confidence on Ndiomu as Amnesty Delegate had resulted in his death at the hands of Ndiomu Boys in Abuja.
This communication was aimed at bullying, threatening, and harassing Major General Barry Ndiomu (Retd), causing him fear of death, violence, and bodily harm. You thereby committed an offence punishable under section 24 (2) (a) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.”
The trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, subsequently adjourned the case until December 4, 2023, for the continuation of the trial.
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