2nd November, 2023
A Bayelsa based blogger who operates Naijalivetv.com, Saint Onitsha Mienpamo, has been remanded in Kuje prison after he was arraigned on allegations bordering on defamatory publications against the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Major General Barry Ndiomu (Rtd).
Mienpamo was arraigned on three-count charge bordering on alleged willful libel, threat, causing danger and insult against the PAP interim administrator before Justice Emeka Nwite of Federal High Court Abuja.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges after which the Judge directed that he should be remanded in the correctional centre until Dec. 4 when the trial would commence.
The Inspector-General (I-G) of Police is the complainant in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/492/23, Mienpamo is the sole defendant in the application dated Oct. 13 and filed on Oct. 16.
When the case was called, the prosecution counsel, N.O. Eleodimio, told the court that the matter was slated for plea and that they were ready to proceed.
Mienpamo, however, pleaded not guilty to all the counts after they were read to him.
His lawyer, Terungwa Ananbe, told the court that a bail application had been filed on Mienpamo’s behalf.
But Justice Nwite said the application was not in the court records, hence, he cannot hear an application that he had not seen.
The judge consequently adjourned the matter until Dec. 4 for trial.
Mienpamo, the self-acclaimed ex-agitator, in one of the counts, is accused of sending a message/post by means of computer system network via his Facebook page ‘Mienpamo Onitsha Saint’ which he knew to be false for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, ill-will and needless anxiety to Maj-Gen. Ndiomu (Retd).
The offence is punishable under Section 24 (1) (b) of the cyber crime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015.(NAN)