Two journalists, Managing Editor of the Bigpen Online newspaper, Joe Ogbodu, and Prince Amour Udemude, were on Thursday arraigned by the Nigeria Police Force in Asaba, Delta State.
The two journalists who are based in Asaba were arraigned for alleged misdemeanour over a news story on a crisis rocking Uzere community Isoko South local government area of the state.
Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Alexander Ogomudia, and one Sam Ogrih, were alleged to be sponsoring and funding some armed youths with the codename “Freedom Fighters.”
Ogomudia and Ogrih were said to have denied any involvement in the crisis and sponsoring of any armed youths.
In a charge no CMA/425c/2019, the Commissioner of Police vs Prince Amour Udemude and Joe Ogbodu, the two journalists, were charged for misdemeanour to wit defamatory.
In the charge sheet, the five counts read:
Count 1
That you Prince Amour Udemude ‘m’ and Joe Ogbodu ‘m’ and others now at large, in the month of October 2019, while in Asaba, within Asaba Magisterial District, did conspired among yourselves to commit misdemeanour to wit Defamatory Publication and thereby committed an offence publishable under Section 517 of the Criminal Code Law Cap. C21 of Delta State 2006.
Count II
That you Prince Amour Udemude ‘m’ and Joe Ogbodu ‘m’ and others now at large, in the month of October 2019, while in Asaba, within Asaba Magisterial District, with intent to injure the reputation of one Sam Ogrih, by exposing him to hatred or ridicule, did publish on BIGPEN ONLINE that Ogrih has been a major financier of armed boys unleashing terror in Uzere community and thereby committed an offence publishable under Section 357 of the Criminal Code Law Cap. 21, of Delta State 2006.
Count III
That you Prince Amour Udemude ‘m’ and Joe Ogbodu ‘m’ and others now at large, in the month of October 2019, while in Asaba, within Asaba Magisterial District, with intent to injure the reputation of one Sam Ogrih, by exposing him to hatred and ridicule, did publish on SAHARA REPORTERS that Sam Ogrih, Columbus, Etuwede were behind the vicious attacks witnessed in Uzere community and supplied some youths with guns and other dangerous weapons to attack those who opposed the diversion and embezzlement of the twenty million naira oil largess released to the community by Nigeria National Petroleum Development Company and thereby committed an offence publishable under Section 357of the Criminal Code, Cap. C21 vol.1 Laws of Delta State 2006.
Count IV
That you Prince Amour Udemude ‘m’ and Joe Ogbodu ‘m’ and others now at large, on 17th of October, 2019, at Asaba, within Asaba Magistrate District, with intent to injure the reputation of Sam Ogrih, by exposing him to hatred and ridicule, did publish on BIGPEN ONLINE that over forty per cent of armed youths in Uzere are Sam Ogrih boys and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 357 of the Criminal Code, Cap. C21 vol. 1.Laws of the Delta state 2006
COUNT V
That you Prince Amour Udemude ‘m’ and Joe Ogbodu ‘m’ and others now at large, on 14th of October, 2019, at Asaba, within Asaba Magistrate District, did publish on BIGPEN ONLINE that Sam Ogrih has been a major financier of the armed boys unleashing terror in Uzere community, which is likely to cause fear and alarm to the public or to disturb the public peace, knowing or having reason to believe that such report is false thereby committed an offence punishable under section 59 of the Criminal Code, Cap. C21 vol. 1.Laws of the Delta state 2006.
The two journalists after listening to the five counts charge, pleaded not guilty and their counsels, Chuks Ebu and Lawrence Obiorah, counsels applied for the bail of the two journalists.
Thereafter the Presiding Magistrate, Court Five, Asaba, B.N. Anumadu, (Mrs), granted the application for bail for the two journalists and the case was adjourned to November 12, 2019 for hearing.
