The Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has dragged a man, simply identified as MC Sweet, before a Magistrate Court in the Aba part of the state over an alleged malicious post.
It was reported that the defendant, a skit maker, made a fake online post claiming that Aba Ngwa indigenes tried to stop Julius Berger from constructing the Port-Harcourt Road in Aba.
MC Sweet also claimed that the governor invited some elders and youths of Aba Ngwa to Umuahia for a peace meeting where he (Governor Otti) allegedly ordered that the indigenes be locked up.
The Abia State Government, through Mr Dodoh Okafor, the Special Assistant on Special Communication to the Governor, denied the controversial post, which caused a commotion in the state last week.
Also, the Aba Ngwa Peoples Forum, led by Chimezie Nwagba (President) and Chinedu Ahuruonye (Secretary) issued a communique disowning the report and also calling for the exposure of those behind the fake post.
They further said that they would never sabotage the Port Harcourt road contract or any other project in the State.
But the person behind the post was later nabbed by the Police and arraigned at Aba Magisterial District for trying to defame the characters of Aba Ngwa Peoples Forum members.
The charge sheet read by the Prosecutor, Mary N. Udorji said MC made the defamatory post within Aba Magisterial District, pointing out that the offence he committed was punishable under Section 375 of Criminal Code, Cap 80, Vol. 111 of Laws of Abia State Nigeria, 2005.
The charge accused MC Sweet of trying to injure the reputation of Aba Ngwa people, ridiculing and exposing them to hatred.
The accused who apologized to the Aba Ngwa Peoples Forum for the injurious social media post, begged that he be given bail so that he could do another post debunking the earlier one he made.
He was granted bail by Chief Magistrate , Erinma Enyeribe and the matter adjourned to February 29, 2024.
But it was not confirmed if MC Sweet was able to meet up with his bail conditions on Friday.
An elder of Ngwa land, Azubuike Osondu Ochieze, in his reaction, said the post tried to rubish the good name of Ngwa people.
Also, a Labour Party Chieftain, Mike Evans said Governor Alex Otti has further been vindicated and advised youths against abusing the social media space.