Abuja-based lawyer and publisher of Kubwa Express, Felix Chukwuma Ashimole, has been arraigned before Justice Abdullahi Liman of the Federal High Court on charges of cybercrime against fellow lawyer Jude Ezeobi.
According to court documents in charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/549/2024, Ashimole is accused of using online platforms to spread false and defamatory statements intended to damage Ezeobi’s reputation.
Following a police investigation, prosecutors established that Ashimole made false claims against Ezeobi in multiple public forums. One of the key accusations stems from an August 21, 2024, post in a WhatsApp group called Law Center, which has over 540 members, many of whom are legal professionals.
In the post, Ashimole allegedly accused Ezeobi of creating a condolence WhatsApp group to solicit funds under false pretenses for his late ex-wife, Ulonna Inyama’s, burial. Prosecutors argue that this statement was entirely untrue and intended to tarnish Ezeobi’s image.
Despite issuing an earlier apology and supposedly deleting the defamatory statements, Ashimole reportedly republished similar allegations on Kubwa Express in September 2024, once again accusing Ezeobi of misleading friends into contributing money. Prosecutors contend that Ashimole knowingly published false claims to inflict reputational damage.
Additionally, on August 21, 2024, Ashimole is alleged to have made another defamatory post in a larger WhatsApp group, Law School Class of 2003, which has over 700 lawyers. In this post, he accused Ezeobi of meddling in his personal affairs. Investigators claim Ashimole was fully aware these allegations were baseless but proceeded with the intent of embarrassing and harassing Ezeobi.
Beyond the defamatory posts, Ashimole is also accused of sending a direct threatening message to Ezeobi, warning him that he had documents that could “bury” him if he decided to escalate the matter. Prosecutors assert that this message was meant to intimidate and silence Ezeobi.
Ashimole is now facing charges under the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024. The prosecution has filed evidence, including WhatsApp messages, witness statements, and articles from Kubwa Express, to support the case against him.
If convicted, Ashimole could face significant legal penalties under Sections 24(1) and 24(2) of the Act. The case is set to proceed as the court weighs the evidence against the accused.
