Lokoja – A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Lokoja , Kogi State on Tuesday sentenced a man, Habibu Achile Rabiu to two-month imprisonment without an option of fine for posting a false information on his Facebook wall.
In addition , the court also ordered the convict to pay N5,000, ruling that the offence he committed contravenef section 393 of Kogi State penal code.
The trial Chief Magistrate, Agatha A. Shankyula while delivering her judgment found the convict guilty of raising false alarm punishable under law.
Rabiu who was standing trial at Magistrate Court 3 had posted on his Facebook wall that the rate at which malaria fever was killing people in the state was becoming alarming.
He made the posting at the heat of Covid-19 pandemic in the country in 2020.
The Department of State Security, DSS subsequently arrested Rabiu at Anyingba in Dekina Local government area of State and was arraigned before Chief Magistrate court 3 in Lokoja
The Prosecuting Counsel , Mr. M.A Abaji argued that the defendant acted contrary to section 393 of Kogi State penal code by intimidating people , creating fear and inciting people against the state government.
Abaji stated that the defendant has also raised false alarm in the state against the backdrop of normal rate of death amidst Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
He pointed that the state Epidemiologist was invited to testify to ascertain Rabiu claims , noting that the State Epidemiologist said that as at the time of the post on the Facebook, the death rate was normal contrary to Rabiu’s post on facebook .
The defense Counsel, E .A Iwu argued that the defendant made the pist based emotion shortly after death of his sister as a result of malaria.
He stated that his client was pained and in a very sad mood when he posted that the rate at which fever was killing people was becoming alarming.
The convict was said to have paid N5,000 before he was moved to the Correctional Centre at Koton Karfe.
