Nigeria: Lady summoned in Lagos court for deformation
By Ahmad Hadizat Omayoza, Mamos Nigeria
A 30-year-elderly person, Daylight Edafe, was on Tuesday, summoned by the police under the watchful eye of a Justices’ Court sitting in Yaba, Lagos State, for supposedly posting slanderous messages via social media against one Pascal Offiah.
The defendant was brought before Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun for his arraignment on three charges: a threat to life and property, defamation, and intent to defraud.
The respondent was said to have requested that Offiah get her a house and a Game Utility Vehicle, and when he declined, she chose to circle a compromising and disparaging distribution about him via virtual entertainment.
Rita Momoh, the prosecutor, stated that Edafe committed the crime in Lagos State between the years 2021 and 2022.
Momoh claims that the offenses were in violation of Sections 376 of the Criminal Code Act Cap C38 LFN 2004 and Sections 302 and 302 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015, respectively.
The charge read, among other things, “That you, Sunshine Edafe, published a written threat message on your WhatsApp and Facebook page against Pascal Offiah of No. 10 Pascal Offiah Close, off Tony Azuya, Lekki, Lagos, and members of his family, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 302 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015, between 2021 and 2022, at Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, with intent to defraud,
“That you, Sunshine Edafe, committed an offense punishable under Section 376 Criminal Code Act Cap C38 LFN 2004 on the same date and place, in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did with intent to defraud, threatened Pascal Offiah via your Facebook page, and published a defamatory statement against him with the intent of inducing him to buy you a house and SUV Jeep.”
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the allegations made against her.
The judge conceded her to bail in the amount of N200,000 with two mindful guarantees in like aggregate.
She concluded the case till September 4, 2023, for notice.
