Arraignment of two suspects over alleged defamation of Moniepoint suffers setback
The arraignment of two suspects, Adebayo Aliu and Fatuntele Tunde, on Monday for allegedly defaming Moniepoint Microfinance Bank was stalled in the Federal High Court, Abuja Division.
The case, filed by the inspector-general of police against the duo before Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, could not proceed due to the judge’s absence.
The court subsequently fixed July 21 for the arraignment of Messrs Aliu and Tunde.
The matter had been adjourned several times since the case was filed.
Their arraignment, originally scheduled for March 11, could not proceed due to the defendants’ absence from court.
When the case was called, neither the defendants nor their lawyer was in court.
Mrs Ofili-Ajumogobia consequently adjourned the matter until April 27 for arraignment, but it could not proceed on that date.
The IG preferred seven counts bordering on cyberstalking against the defendants.
The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/122/2026, was filed by Anthony Egwu, a police officer.
In count one, Messrs Aliu and Tunde were alleged to have, sometime in January 2026, conspired, aided and abetted each other, to cyberstalk Moniepoint Microfinance Bank by creating a fraudulent platform to solicit tumultuous online engagement.
They were alleged to have promised an unsuspecting victim N500,000 if the victim would comment with the phrase “Moniepoint Scandal” and share any imaginary scandalous experience regarding Moniepoint MFB, to cause a breakdown of law and order.
The police said the offence is contrary to Section 27(2)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended) in 2024 and punishable under Section 24(1)(b) of the same Act.
(NAN)
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