Woman, 30, arraigned in Lagos court for defamation

A 30-year-old woman, Sunshine Edafe, was on Tuesday, arraigned by the police before a Magistrates’ Court sitting in Yaba, Lagos State, for allegedly posting defamatory messages on social media against one Pascal Offiah.

The defendant was arraigned before Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun on three counts bordering on intent to defraud, a threat to life and property and defamation.

The defendant was said to have asked Offiah to buy her a house and a Sport Utility Vehicle, and when he refused, she decided to circulate a threatening and defamatory publication about him on social media.

The prosecutor, Rita Momoh, stated that Edafe committed the crime between 2021 and 2022 in Lagos State.

According to Momoh, the offences contravened Sections 302, and 302 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015, and Section 376 of the Criminal Code Act Cap C38 LFN 2004.

The charge read in part, “That you, Sunshine Edafe, between 2021 and 2022, at Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, with intent to defraud, published a written threat message on your WhatsApp and Facebook page against Pascal Offiah of no 10 Pascal Offiah Close, off Tony Azuya, Lekki, Lagos, and members of his family, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 302 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

“That you, Sunshine Edafe, on the same date, and place, in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did with intent to defraud, threatened via your Facebook page and published a defamatory statement against Pascal Offiah with the intent of inducing him to buy you a house and SUV Jeep and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 376 Criminal Code Act Cap C38 LFN 2004.”

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against her.

The magistrate admitted her to bail in the sum of N200,000 with two responsible sureties in like sum.

She adjourned the case till September 4, 2023, for mention.