By Babatunde Sharafat
Justice Peter Lifu, sitting at the Federal High Court ikoyi, Lagos, delivered judgment on Tuesday July 16, 2024 in the case between the Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Commodore Duja Emmanuel Effedua (rtd) and Innocent Orok, a Lagos based journalist found the journalist guilty of all the four count charges he was charged with which were on Cyber Stalking and Cyber Bullying.
We gathered from a lawyer who was in court that before reading his judgment which the Judge said was based on precedence and in accordance with provisions of the Cyber Crime Act 2015 (enacted to provide a unified legal, regulatory and institutional framework for the prohibition, prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of cybercrimes in Nigeria), lawyers for the accused pleaded for mercy as Orok was a first time offender with no pending case in court nor any known police station in Nigeria.
There was mild drama which elicited laughter when Justice Lifu asked Orok:
“How many children do you have?”
Orock trembling with fear, managed to respond that he has five children three of who are minors. He added that journalism is his only source of livelihood for his immediate and extended family members consisting of an aged mother, aunties and many others.
“Are you a traditional ruler to cater for so many women? Are those old enough not married and engaged in businesses?”
This elicited outbursts of laughter in court as shout of “order!” soon restored quietness.
Apparently touched by the pleas made by Counsels and the profuse tears shed by Orok, Justice Lifu continued.
“Anyway, all thing considered I sentence you to one year in prison with hard labour with an option of fine of N25,000.
All other three charges attracted the same sentence and same option of fine.
Justice Lifu cautioned journalists to deploy their professional training and expertise to nation building instead of harassing and intimidating citizens; no matter the circumstances.
“Commodore Duja is a man who has served and still serving the country creditably. I do not think that he deserve the name calling, fear and anxiety caused him by the publication of unverified stories even when the journalist had access and opportunity to verify his stories prior to publication. He ignored and chose to follow his unreliable, misleading sources”
“Tendering apology after emotional disruption and psychological trauma is unacceptable. Journalists should be men of integrity and responsibility in the society and not predators nor blackmailers” Justice Lifu said.
He frowned at situations where indigenes become aggressive and tend to assume that Federal Institution sited in their communities are their personal properties.
“Even if the Institution or facility is sited in your backyard, it does not make it your personal property. The Government has the right to appoint any citizen from any part of the country to oversee and manage it on behalf of all Nigerians”
“People should allow those appointed by government at any level to work”, Justice Lifu pleaded.
When contacted, the Rector said “No comment; justice has been served and that is it”
It could be recalled that in April, 2021, some persons, Michael Edet and Associates wrote fictitious petition against the Academy which is the document published by Orok for which he has been convicted.
We are told that Micheal Edet and Associates is a fake, unregistered company with the Corporate Affair Commission, CAC, which JO, Udobang, OU Essien and Micheal Edet hide under to conceal their identity even when they have registered companies. They shall be arraigned again on 6th November 2024 in continuation of their prosecution by the Police.
Their partners, Adamu Jubril and fake Dr. George Davidson (real name Martins Ugwu Okpe) who is on bail in Abuja, (a well-known serial blackmailer and extortionist) is also strongly linked with these unfortunate group of persons. They have been reported to the Police. They can run but the law will definitely catch up with them soon.
“Like Judge said, journalist should be wary of their source of information”
“The conviction of Orok should serve as a warning to all criminal syndicates within and those hovering around the Academy to back off or be ready for their judgement day soon” a source at the Academy who does not want his name mentioned because he is not authorized to speak on the development told our reporter on telephone.
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