By CHARLES IWUOHA

An Ebonyi State Magistrates' Court sitting in Abakaliki, on Monday, remanded a 24-year-old man (popularly known as Prophet Ubadinma) in a correctional facility over allegations bothering on defamation of character, attempted murder, malicious damage, stealing; arson, among others.

It was gathered that the suspect, who was alleged to have been in the habit of reeling out fake prophecies, committed the offences at Offianka Inyima, Agharaoza, Affiauku and the Ochiohu Inyegu villages in the Izzi and Ikwo Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State in 2020, 2023, 2024 and 2025 respectively.

The accused allegedly prophesied that an Ogun State-based businessman, one Emeka Mgbore (popularly known as EmmyBest) was a ritualist and circulated a video of the said 'fake' prophecy to various social media. The development, our Correspondent gathered, led to varying degrees of attacks on the Ebonyi-born entrepreneur and looting of his shops by angry mobs in Ogun State.

it was equally alleged the 'prophet's inciting utterances and misdemeanor exposed the character of one Linus Uguru, Njoku Iziogo and others to ridicule and defamation at Offianka Inyima village, in the Izzi LGA of the state.

He was arraigned in Court, on Monday, by the Ebonyi State Police Command on four different cases comprising of 16 count charges. The charges bothered on attempted murder, arson, stealing, defamation of character, malicious damage, among others.

His lead Counsel, Barrister Emeka Anosike, pleaded the Court to grant his client bail on the four different matters entered before it, maintaining that they were bailable and did not constitute serious harm to the defendants.

The Police Prosecutor, ASP Lilian Aliede (Mrs), opposed the bail plea, arguing that the offences were both serious and unsettling on the complainants' image.

For the matter on defamation of character, she told the court that the offences were punishable under sections 517 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 33 and 373(a) Criminal Code Cap.33 Vols. 1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.

The Magistrate, Mrs. Sandra Ifeanyi-Oyibe, granted the suspect bail on the two cases over defamation of character in the tune of N2,000,000 each with two sureties who must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court. According to her, the sureties should show evidence of tax clearance for three years.

The charges read partly, "That you Ubadinma Nwebonyi 'M' and others now at large on the 10th day of January, 2023 at Offianka Inyima, in the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit misdemeanor to wit: Defamation of character and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 517 of the Criminal Code Cap. 33, Vol. 1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009."

"That you Ubadinma Nwebonyi 'M' and others now at large on the 28th day of July, 2025 at Offiauku village, in the aforementioned Magisterial District did defame the character of one Emeka Mgbore 'M' by verbally saying that he is a ritualist, which you know to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 373(a) of the Criminal Code Cap 33, Vol. 1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009."

Mrs. Ifeanyi-Oyibe adjourned the two matters till September 16th and 15th, 2025, for hearing.

For the other two matters bothering on attempted murder, arson, malicious damage, stealing , among others the suspect was not granted bail.

Their charges read in part, "That you Ubadinma Nwebonyi 'M' and others now at large sometime in the year 2020 at Ochiohu Inyegu, in the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: Attempted Murder/Malicious Damage/Defamation of Character/Stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 516A(a) of the Criminal Code Cap 33, Vol. 1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.

"That you Ubadinma Nwebonyi 'M' and others now at large on the 7th day of June , 2024, at Agharaoza village, in the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: Arson/Malicious Damage/Defamation of Character/Stealing."

The Magistrate said her Court lacked the jurisdiction to adjudicate on them.

She directed that the cases' files should be transferred to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for report of compliance. She adjourned till September 15 and 16 respectively.

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