Blogger Lands In Trouble, Faces Prison Sentence Over Cyber stalking, Defamation

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Nigeria Police Force, National Cybercrime Centre, on Thursday, arraigned a blogger, Mienapoma Saint before a Federal High Court in Abuja, for alleged cyberstalking and defamation of character of the Presidential Amnesty Programme and its leadership.

According to Saturday PUNCH,  Saint had alongside other media platforms and blogs published a report alleging that fraudulent activities were being carried out at the PAP.

The NPF-NCCC in a statement obtained by our correspondent on Friday, claimed that Saint, who is associated with Naija Live TV, reportedly disseminated information found to be false and likely to cause a breach of the peace and threats to life.

The NPF-NCCC had arraigned Saint before Justice Emeka Nwite on a three-count charge of alleged cyberstalking and defamation of character of PAP and its leadership.

Saint, however, pleaded not guilty to the offence when the three-count charge was read to him.

Justice Nwite consequently adjourned the matter till December 4 and directed that Saint be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.

The NPF-NCCC in its statement on Friday, notes that its operatives, upon thorough investigation into the complaint, detained Saint in its custody on October 10, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.

The statement reads in part, “In an effort targeted at sanitizing the digital space and protecting its users, Officers of the Nigeria Police Force – National Cybercrime Center (NPF-NCCC) have concluded a thorough investigation into a complaint of alleged cyberstalking, defamation of character, acts likely to cause a breach of the peace, and threats to life.

“As a result, one Mienapoma Saint, associated with Naija Live TV, was taken into custody on the 10th of October 2023 in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State.

“The suspect had made serious allegations against the Amnesty programme and its leadership, implicating them in various heinous activities. These accusations investigated and found to be false, were originally disseminated through an online blogging site, Naijalivetv.com, and a Facebook account connected to the suspect.

The arrest which was executed with the utmost professionalism, became necessary after carrying out a discreet investigation and conducting threat assessments on a series of posts linked to the suspects. The inciting and misleading posts were not just maliciously targeted at the program but touches upon sensitive matters that are integral to the unity of the Niger Delta Region and have the potential to disrupt peace and harmony in the Area.”

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