Man Bags One Month Jail Term Over Defamation In Delta

By Matthew Ochei, Asaba

A Chief Magistrate court sitting in Ibusa, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State has sentenced Elder Albert Odia of Umuogwo quarter in Ibusa community to one-month imprisonment for defamation of character.

The Chief Magistrate C. N. Ughe stated while delivering the judgment after finding Albert Odia guilty of unjustly injuring the reputation and character of Chief Austin Nnabundo who hails from the same community.

The defendant, Albert Odia, had delivered a written speech during the 2019 family conference of Umuogwo sons and daughters held in the community.

In the said speech, which was tendered in court and admitted as an exhibit, the defendant accused the complainant of squandering, converting and voraciously feasting on a sum of N48m allegedly paid to Umuogwo community as compensation by the Delta State Government for the compulsory acquisition of land for the establishment of the Admiralty University, among others.

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In the rulling, the Chief Magistrate said “What is before me are written words of the defendant as President-General of Umuogwo family union as read at the Easter Conference of 2019 describing Chief Nnabundo and his reputation.

“In the light of the evidence before me, I cannot find justification for the use of those words to describe Chief Nnabundo in the circumstance. I find the defendant guilty in the circumstance and hereby sentence him to one-month imprisonment”

The court, however, gave an option of N100,000 fine, having considered the plea of counsel to the defendant to temper justice with mercy.