The Inspector-General of Police has filed a six-count charge against Emenike Okorie over alleged cybercrime, harassment and defamation arising from WhatsApp publications concerning the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu.
The charge, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, accuses Okorie, 49, of allegedly publishing messages on the Umuhu Ezechi Development Union WhatsApp group that the prosecution claims were intended to damage Kalu’s reputation, expose him to public ridicule and threaten his safety.
The allegations are contained in a charge document dated October 26, 2026.
Okorie, identified in the charge as a resident of Amazu, Umuhu Ezechi, in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, faces allegations under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, as amended in 2024, and the Criminal Code Act.
The first three counts centre on a WhatsApp message allegedly published by Okorie concerning a proposed ₦348 million garri processing plant project in Umuhu Ezechi.
According to the charge, the message accused Kalu of using the community’s name to divert funds purportedly earmarked for the project. It also allegedly described the Deputy Speaker as a “scam” and called for a change of representation in Bende Federal Constituency.
The prosecution alleges that the message was knowingly and intentionally transmitted, claiming that its publication was intended to undermine public order, threaten Kalu’s life and damage his reputation.
The first count invokes Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes Act, as amended in 2024.
The second count alleges that the publication constituted bullying, threatening or harassment capable of placing Kalu in fear of violence or bodily harm, while the third concerns the alleged use of the same publication to attack his reputation under the cybercrime legislation.
The fourth and fifth counts relate to a separate WhatsApp publication in which Okorie allegedly challenged members of the group to identify the person described as the “number 1 aza man in South Africa who turned to number 6 citizen in Nigeria”.
The prosecution claims that the description referred to Kalu and portrayed him as someone who had defrauded people in South Africa.
According to the charge, the post offered a ₦10,000 reward to encourage members of the group to provide the correct answer.
The prosecution alleges that the publication was intended to undermine the Deputy Speaker’s reputation and, under one of the counts, create a risk to his safety.
The sixth count returns to the alleged garri processing plant publication, accusing Okorie of criminal defamation by allegedly exposing Kalu to hatred, contempt or ridicule.
The count cites Sections 373 and 375 of the Criminal Code Act.
The prosecution has listed Mba Mgboji Mba, identified as a representative of the nominal complainant, among its proposed witnesses.
According to the proof of evidence, Mba is expected to testify about the alleged reputational damage and distress arising from the publications.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Bello Olatunji and members of his investigative team are also listed as witnesses expected to present evidence concerning the investigation and its findings.
The proposed exhibits include the petition submitted to the Inspector-General of Police, statements attributed to the complainant, a witness and the defendant, as well as computer printouts relating to the publications.
The charge follows a petition dated August 15, 2026, submitted to the police chief by solicitors representing Kalu.
The petition alleged that WhatsApp messages circulated around August 13, 2026, damaged the Deputy Speaker’s reputation and political standing.
It called for an investigation into the authorship and circulation of the messages, the preservation of relevant electronic evidence and appropriate legal action if criminal conduct was established.
Correspondence accompanying the petition indicates that the police subsequently referred the matter to the Force Criminal Investigation Department for investigation.
The six-count charge sets out the prosecution’s allegations against Okorie.
