The Enugu State Police Command has arraigned a 29-year-old mother of two, Chisom Okonkwo, for allegedly making false claims that her husband, Okonkwo Ozioma, defiled their two daughters.

The case followed a viral social media post on November 5, in which Chisom accused her husband of sexually assaulting their children and threatening to kill her if she revealed the incident.

Mr Okonkwo denied the allegations and requested legal representation before making any statements to the police. According to court documents, the charges against Chisom include defamation of character and giving false information to the police.

Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Chisom Okonkwo, sometime in the month of August 2024, along Adoration Junction, opposite Dan-Legal Hotel, Emene, Enugu, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did defame the character of one Okonkwo Ozioma by shouting in public that he defiled your two daughters, which has exposed him to hatred, contempt and ridicule, thereby damaging his reputation and committing an offence contrary to Section 323 and punishable under Section 325 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. II, Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2004.”

The second count reads: “That you, Chisom Okonkwo, on October 27, 2025, at the State Intelligence Department (SID), Enugu, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did give false information to police detectives that Okonkwo Ozioma defiled your two daughters, leading to his arrest and detention, knowing the information to be false, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 154(1)(a)&(b) of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. II, Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2004.”

Under Nigerian law, making false accusations of sexual assault can attract severe penalties, including charges of perjury, public mischief, or filing a false police report, offences that carry significant prison terms or fines.

In Lagos State, the law prescribes up to life imprisonment for making a false accusation of rape. If such an accusation is made under oath, it may constitute perjury, which is punishable by up to 14 years’ imprisonment under Section 118 of the Criminal Code Act.

False reporting of crimes also attracts sanctions for public mischief or wasting police time, with penalties of up to five years’ imprisonment in some jurisdictions.

Beyond criminal charges, a person wrongfully accused of rape may also pursue civil action against the accuser for damages. (GUARDIAN)