Nigeria: Man Jailed in Kogi for Posting False Information on Facebook

A Magistrate Court sitting Lokoja has sentenced a middle-aged man, Habibu Achile Rabiu to two months in prison with payment of a fine of N5,000 for contravening section 393 of the Kogi State penal code for posting false information on his Facebook timeline.

Trial Magistrate, Chief Magistrate, A.A . Agatha while delivering her judgement explained that Rabiu’s action by posting on his Facebook timeline has contravened section 393 of the Kogi State Penal code by raising false alarms punishable under law.

Rabiu who was standing trial at Magistrate Court 3 over the comments on his Facebook timeline that the rate at which fever was killing people in the state was alarming, particularly during the heat of the Covid 19 pandemic in the country.

The Department of State Security, DSS subsequently arrested Rabiu at Anyingba in Dekina Local government area of State and was arraigned before a Chief Magistrate court 3 in Lokoja

The Prosecuting Counsel, Mr M.A Abaji argued that the defendant acted contrary to section 393 of the Kogi State penal code by intimidating people, creating fear and inciting people against the state government.

Abaji stated that the defendant has also raised false alarms in the state against the backdrop of the normal rate of death amidst the Covid 19 pandemic in 2020.

He pointed that the state Epidemiologist was invited to testify to ascertain Rabiu’s claims, noting that the State Epidemiologist said that as to the post on Facebook time the death rate was normal contrary to Rabiu’s belief.

The Defence Counsel, E. An Iwu had argued that the defendant acted based on emotion after the death of his sister as a result of malarial fever at that moment.

He stated that his client was pained and in a sad mood when he posted that the rate at which fever is killing people is alarming

The defendant was said to have paid N5,000 before he was moved to prison custody.

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