Former Nigerian governor to face trial over alleged cybercrime - Report

A former governor of Imo state, Ikedi Ohakim, is to be arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on cybercrime.

This Day reported that the office of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) will on February 15 arraign Ohakim alongside one Chinedu Okpareke over alleged harassment of a woman named Chinyere Amuchinwa.

The police accused the ex-governor and his co-accused of threatening to circulate unclad pictures of a lady if she refuses to drop the charges of attempted kidnap against them.

According to The Cable, the prosecutor said the former governor committed the offence via a computer system or network.

The charge sheet read in part:

"That you Chinendu Okpareke ‘m’ 49, and Dr Ikedi Ohakim ‘m’ and others now at large on the 13th day of August 2020 within the jurisdiction of this court did conspire among yourselves by knowingly and intentionally send messages by means of computer system or network in a grossly offensive, pornographic, nude of an indecent obscene and menacing character of one Chinyere Amuchienwa ‘f’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 27 (1)(a) of the Cybercrime Act 2015.''

The police alleged that that Ohakim and his co-accused also committed criminal intimidation which is punishable by the Cybercrime Act. In another news, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) said it will not allow any form of demonstration that will again lead to the destruction of properties and government assets ahead of the OcuppyLekkiTollGate protest scheduled for Saturday, February 13, t Hakeem Odumosun, Lagos state commissioner of police, issued this warning during a press conference in Ikeja on Thursday, February 11.

Lagos police commissioner said the protest will not be allowed due to the present security situation in the state and the aftermath of the first EndSARS protest which the government is still battling with.