The charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/53/2025, followed a petition that was lodged by a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Chinedu Ogah. 

The lawmaker who represents Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State, in his petition, accused Alefia who is the publisher of an online news platform, Naija News Today, of publishing false reports to tarnish his reputation. 

He alleged that the said false reports were shared on social media platforms. 

Alefia’s firm, Asiwaju Media Company Ltd, was equally cited as the 2nd defendant in the charge.

Meanwhile, when the charge was read to him in the open court on Wednesday, the defendant, who has been in detention since September 23, pleaded not guilty to the allegation against him. 

Trial Justice Obiora Egwuatu ordered his remand at Kuje prison, even as he adjourned the matter till January 27, 2026, for trial. 

Police, in the charge before the court, alleged that the defendants used computer systems—specifically social media platforms such as Facebook—to make false publications, in violation of Section 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and punishable under Section 24(2)(c)(ii) of the same Act.

In count-two of the charge, the defendants were accused of publishing a false report titled “How Federal Lawmaker Ogah Snatches Village Land in Ebonyi,” knowing same to be untrue. 

In another another count in the charge, the prosecution alleged that the defendants made a publication titled “Ebonyi Rep Member Returns N4 Million Amidst Extortion Allegations,” knowing same to be false. 

They were said to have committed offences punishable under the Cybercrime law.