By ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE

In recent days, a shocking report swept across social media and informal news circles claiming that former Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, had been sentenced to death by hanging by a state high court for allegedly embezzling N1 trillion. According to the viral story, the funds?originally allocated for ambitious infrastructure projects like an international airport and a light rail system?were siphoned into a foreign account in Australia. The ?news? detailed a dramatic courtroom verdict, reactions from the public, and an imminent execution.

There was no court ruling. No N1 trillion traced. No death sentence. The entire story was fabricated?a sophisticated example of political disinformation.

And yet, the false report was believable enough to spark outrage, celebration, and fierce debate, particularly in Abia State. That fact alone should give every Nigerian pause.

That so many people believed this fake story without hesitation speaks volumes about our collective cynicism toward political leadership. Over the years, corruption cases involving public officials have become so common?and so frequently unpunished?that the notion of a former governor facing a death sentence felt, to many, like long-overdue justice. It resonated because it reflected what people have come to expect, if not from the courts, then at least from moral reckoning.

But fiction is no substitute for justice. And misinformation, no matter how emotionally satisfying, does not strengthen democracy. What began as a sensational lie quickly evolved into a political firestorm. Loyalists of former Governor Ikpeazu dismissed the story as a smear campaign orchestrated by allies of the current administration under Governor Alex Otti. In turn, Otti?s team denied any involvement, accusing Ikpeazu?s camp of trying to gain public sympathy by playing the victim.

The result? More division, more distrust, more digital mudslinging. This is the dangerous cycle we now find ourselves trapped in?where public discourse is shaped less by facts than by which side can weaponize the most viral narrative.

There is no doubt that Nigeria urgently needs stronger accountability mechanisms. Billions of naira go unaccounted for each year, and the slow pace of justice in high-profile corruption cases has made many citizens justifiably frustrated.

But fabricating consequences does not address the root problem?it only deepens public skepticism. If we celebrate fake justice, we risk weakening the call for ?real? accountability and giving corrupt actors more cover by allowing them to dismiss legitimate criticism as part of a smear campaign.

This incident shows the urgent need for ?media literacy? and responsible journalism. Fake news thrives where readers do not verify sources, and where media outlets chase clicks over credibility. While satirical or cautionary stories have a place, they must be clearly labeled and ethically presented. Anything less becomes part of the problem.

Equally, the public must resist the urge to share sensational stories without scrutiny. The stakes are too high. A democracy polluted by misinformation cannot function properly. The court of public opinion must not replace the actual courts of law.

?Odimegwu Onwumere is Chairman Advocacy Network On Religious And Cultural Coexistence (ANORACC).

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