​Blogger Remanded Over Defamatory Fabrications Against Soludo Family

​The Anambra State Police Command has officially arraigned Ejike Ofoegbu, the publisher of Igbo Times Magazine and iNews, before a Chief Magistrate Court in Awka. Ofoegbu faces multiple charges, including criminal defamation and cybercrime, following a sustained campaign of publishing fabricated reports regarding Governor Chukwuma Soludo and his family.

​The arraignment, which took place on Monday, July 13, 2026, marks the conclusion of an investigation initiated after a formal petition was submitted to the Department of State Services (DSS). Following preliminary inquiries, the DSS transferred custody of the suspect to the State Police Command, where detectives gathered evidence confirming that the circulated stories were not products of investigative journalism, but rather deliberate falsehoods.

​According to police investigators, Ofoegbu’s publications featured entirely manufactured quotes and scenarios aimed at damaging the reputation of the Governor’s family and inciting public disaffection. Police spokesperson SP Tochukwu Ikenga stated that the suspect admitted during questioning that the stories—which included lurid, groundless claims of conflict between the Governor and his son, Ozonna—were created solely to manipulate social media algorithms and drive traffic for financial gain.

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​The prosecution’s case rests on the assertion that these actions crossed the threshold of responsible media practice, transitioning into criminal conduct designed to mislead the public. In a previous public statement, Ofoegbu had attempted to issue a retraction, admitting that the stories were “completely fake, false, fabricated, and untrue” and acknowledging that they lacked any factual basis or credible source.

​Presiding Magistrate Justice Obiora has ordered that Ofoegbu be remanded at the Anambra State Correctional Centre in Amawbia as the legal proceedings continue. The State Police Command has declined further commentary to avoid prejudice to the ongoing trial, but reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the rule of law.

​The Command has utilized this development to issue a stern reminder to media practitioners and digital content creators regarding the necessity of due diligence. SP Ikenga emphasized that while the right to information is protected, the dissemination of false information causing reputational harm remains a serious offense under existing laws, and those who weaponize digital platforms for defamation will face the full weight of the judicial process.