A 37-year-old woman, Blessing Edet, was on Tuesday docked in the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court for allegedly defaming Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom.

Ms Edet, who was arraigned before Justice Ahmed Mohammed by the Nigerian police on a six-count charge, however, pleaded not guilty.

While the Inspector-General of Police is the complainant in charge number: FHC/ABJ/CR/181/2021, Ms Edet is the sole defendant.

Count one of the charges read that “you Blessing Ossom Edet ‘F’ 37 years of No. 18 Buchanan Crescent Wuse II, Abuja, on or before April 11, 2020, sent messages or other matter with the captioned: “Names of Married Women/Politicians’ Wives Sleeping with Governor Emmanuel Loading,” through her Facebook page.

She was also accused of sending a message with the caption: “So we are going dirty. It’s time to break the final table. Stay tuned” through her Facebook page.

Besides, Ms Edet was alleged to have sent a message captioned: “That the Hon. Commissioner for Women Affairs and Agriculture, Dr Glory Edet, was the actual First Lady of Akwa Ibom, who has overthrown the real wife of the governor.”

This act, according to the charge, is grossly offensive and an offence punishable under section 24 (a) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act 2015.

Ms Edet pleaded not guilty to the six counts.

Justice Omotosho, who said the offences listed in the counts were bailable, held that section 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, allowed the court to grant the bail.

The judge, who admitted Ms Edet to bail in the sum of N500,000 with a surety in the like sum, said the surety should be a civil servant or somebody with a reasonable means of income.

Mr Mohammed ordered Ms Edet to, immediately after the sitting, deposit her international passport with the court registry and that failure to meet the terms, she should be remanded at Suleja Prison pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.

The judge adjourned the matter until May 10 for trial.

(NAN)