Man who accused Akpabio of being a scammer provided no evidence - Police
By Eric Ikhilae, Abuja A Federal High Court in Abuja heard on Monday that a 70-year-old man who accused Senate President, Godswill Akpabio of being a scammer provided no evidence
By Eric Ikhilae, Abuja
A Federal High Court in Abuja heard on Monday that a 70-year-old man who accused Senate President, Godswill Akpabio of being a scammer provided no evidence to support his claim.
A Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Ibrahim Ezekiel Sini attached to the Counter Intelligent Unit (CIU) at the Force Headquarters, Abuja told the court that Gabriel U. Egoh (the 70-old man) was in the habit of faking spurious allegations against high profile individuals and institutions.
Sini spoke while testifying as the first prosecution witness (PW1) in the ongoing trial of Egoh on charges of criminal defamation, cyber stalking, among others.
The witness said a petition written by Akpabio against Egoh was assigned to his team to investigate sometime in 2024
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He said the petition complained about criminal conspiracy, criminal defamation and cyber bullying.
The witness added that he got to know Egoh in the course of investigating the petition and that his team tracked him to his base in Ugheli, Delta State through his social media platforms.
He said investigation revealed that Egoh made video recordings, which he posted on his social media platforms, making sundry criminal defamatory allegations against the people of the Senate President.
Sini said investigation revealed that Egoh published the defamatory video on his online site, named: Hivtetv media platform, which he shared through other social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, among others.
He told the court that when his team went to his house to effect his arrest, the defendant was not available, but that he later gave himself up.
The witness added: "He confirmed that he was the one who made the video and made the allegations against the Senate President.
"When we asked for his evidence, he said he was relying on a BBC interview granted by Senator Abdul Ningi, who accused Akpabio of engaging in budget padding."
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The witness confirmed that Akpabio complained, in his petition, about how the publication has caused him some discomfort, with family members, friends and associates calling to ascertain the veracity of the defendant's claim.
The witness further states that investigation revealed that the defendant made a series of publication in which made spurious allegations against institutions and individuals, but without evidence.
The prosecution rendered some documents, including Akpabio's petition, the petitioner's statement, the defendant's statement and four video recordings made by the defendant.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik admitted the documents and the video recordinga in evidence and subsequently ordered the prosecution to serve all other documents and materials rel vat to the case on the defendant to enable him prepare for his defence.
The judge adjourned till May 14 for continuation of trial.
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Egoh is being prosecuted by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on a seven-count charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/259/2024.
Some of the counts in the charge read:
*That you Gabriel U. Egoh (70years) ‘M’ of 42 Imoniyame Avenue Ugheli, in May 2024, May 2024 did did knowingly and intentionally send a message by means of computer systems network via; TIKTOK Media Platform knowing it to be false, for the purpose of causing Annoyance, Inconvenience, Danger, Insult, Injury, Criminal Intimidation, ill will and needless anxiety to the person and reputation Senator Godswill Akpabio, CON the Senate President, Federal Republic of Nigeria “M” of 13 TY Danjuma Street, Asokoro, Abuja where you published that “AKPABIO IS THE MOST WICKED YAHOO BOY OF NIGERIA. HE SCAMS NIGERIANS AND THE PEAOPLE OF AKWAIBIOM. THE BUDGET PADDER OF TIME” and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
*That you Gabriel U. Egoh (70years) ‘M’ of 42 Imoniyame Avenue Ugheli, in May 2024, in May 2024 did knowingly and intentionally send a message by means of computer systems network via; INSTAGRAM Media Platform knowing it to be false, for the purpose of causing Annoyance, Inconvenience, Danger, Insult, Injury, Criminal Intimidation, ill will and needless anxiety to the person and reputation Senator Godswill Akpabio, CON the Senate President Federal Republic of Nigeria “M” of 13 TY Danjuma Street, Asokoro, Abuja where you published that “AKPABIO IS THE MOST WICKED YAHOO BOY OF NIGERIA. HE SCAMS NIGERIANS AND THE PEAOPLE OF AKWAIBIOM. THE BUDGET PADDER OF TIME “and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
