Police arraign ten members of Ogidi Union Lagos branch over alleged Cyber stalking, conspiracy and threat
By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
The Police on Monday arraigned ten members of Lagos branch of Ogidi Union, Anambra State before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos over criminal charge bothering on conspiracy, cyber stalking and threat.
The defendants whose ages are between 37 and 65 years are eight women namely: Onyeka Udemezue, Uchenna Mbelu, Obiageli Stella Obiakor, Ogochukwu Okeke, Nkechi Okudo, Ifeoma Ikechukwu Udoh, Eucharia Agbogu, Lizzy Obianyo and two men; Ogochukwu Agbogu and Elochukwu Abada Okoye.
When the matter was called on Monday for arraignment, L.S. Oju Esq. from the Force CID Ikoyi Lagos announced appearance for the prosecution while Dan. C. Okoye Esq. leading other lawyers, appeared for all the defendants.
The prosecutor informed the court that a five-count amended charge against the defendants dated and filed on 1st of July is before the court and applied for the charge to be read to the defendants for them to take their plea.
The court ordered that the charge be read and after listening to the five count charge, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.
According to the charge marked FHC/L/888c/2024, the defendants and others still at large were alleged to have between 2023 and 2024, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, conspired amongst themselves to commit felony to wit: Cyber stalking, threat and offensive messages to the person of Mrs Uju Patricia Ibegbu through WhatsApp group platform of Women wing of Ogidi Union, Nigeria, Lagos branch which caused injury to her reputation.
It was further stated in the charge that the defendants intentionally sent the offensive messages by means of network to the WhatsApp group platform and by so doing, bullied, threatened and harassed the person of Mrs Uju Patricia Ibegbu and places her in fear of death, violence and bodily harm.
The offence allegedly committed by the defendants is punishable under Sections 24(1)(a) and (b), 24(2)(a)(i), 27(1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.)Act 2015.
The offence is also punishable under Section 518(2) of the Criminal Code Act, CAP C38, Laws of the Federation, 2024.
Following the defendants’ not guilty plea, the defendants’ lead counsel Dan C. Okoye submitted that he has filed a bail application for all the defendants. He told the court that the prosecution has been served and prayed the leave of the court to move same.
Meanwhile, the prosecutor affirmed receipt of the application and did not oppose it.
While moving the application, Okoye stated that the application dated and filed on the 8th of July 2025 is supported by 18 paragraphs affidavit deposed to by each of the ten defendants , attached are the amended charge, a letter from the Solicitor representing the nominal complainant to the Police and a written submission dated same date.
After moving the application, the Judge said that he will take time to look into the application but will release the defendants to Mr Columbus Obiemeka Okaro, a retired Commissioner of Police (legal) from Ogidi and also the defendants’ lead counsel Mr Okoye to ensure that the defendants are in court on next adjourned date.
In his bench ruling. Justice Aneke said “the defendants are hereby released to the retired Commissioner of Police and the defendants’ lawyer and shall be in court on Friday 18th July by 12.00 pm for ruling on their bail application.
One of the five counts read:
“That you Onyeka Udemezue, Ogochukwu Agbogu, Uchenna Mbelu, Obiageli Stella Obiakor, Ogochukwu Okeke, Nkechi Okudo, Ifeoma Ikechukwu Udoh, Eucharia Agbogu, Lizzy Obianyo, Elochukwu Abada Okoye and others still at large, between the year 2023 and 2024, in Lagos within the Judicial Division of this Honourable Court , conspired amongst yourselves to cause injury to the person of Mrs Uju Patricia Ibegbu or to cause injury to her reputation, and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 518(2) of the Criminal Code Act CAP C38, Laws of the Federation 2004.”
